Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
tree-probing habits of Africa's wood hoopoes. The heavily carnivorous diet of shrikes is
adopted by - among others -the hook-billed vanga (
Vanga curvirostris
) and the dramat-
ic, blue-billed helmet vanga (
Euryceros prevostii
) which resembles a small hornbill. Other
vangas mimic nuthatches, flycatchers and tits. In short, if
The Beagle
had been caught by
the West Wind Drift and Darwin had arrived in Madagascar instead of the Galapagos, the
vangas would certainly have ensured that his train of thought went uninterrupted.
Malagasyrepresentativesoffamiliesfoundelsewheremakeupthebulkoftheremaining
birdlife.Herons,ibises,grebes,ducksandrailstakeuptheirusualpositionsinwetlands,in-
cludingendemicssuchastheendangeredMadagascarteal(
Anasbernieri
)ofsomewestern
mangroves, andthe colourful Madagascar malachite kingfisher (
Alcedo vintsioides
).Game
birds include the attractive Madagascar partridge and Madagascar sandgrouse. The im-
pressiveMadagascarcrestedibis(
Lophotibiscristata
),Madagascarblueandgreenpigeons
and tuneful vasa parrots (
Coracopsis
spp) occupy the various strata of vegetation. More
colourful birds include the grey-headed lovebird (
Agapornis cana);
the Madagascar bee-
eater (
Merops superciliosus);
the Madagascar paradise flycatcher (
Terpsiphone mutata);
the Madagascar hoopoe (
Upupa marginata);
the Madagascar red fody (
Foudia madagas-
cariensis
) dressed in scarlet during the breeding season (October to March); souimanga
and long-billed green sunbirds; and the crested drongo (
Dicrurus forficatus
), with its black
plumage, forked tail and silly crest. The four
rock thrushes
(
Monticola
spp) look like
European robins in morning suits. The confiding endemic Madagascar magpie robin (
Co-
psychus albospecularis
) sports black-and-white attire and flirts fearlessly with humans.
BIRDING IN MADAGASCAR
Derek Schuurman
To see a fair spectrum of Madagascar's endemic birds, visit at least one site in each
of the island's three chief climatic/floristic zones: eastern rainforest, southern spiny
forest and western dry deciduous forests. Each holds its own complement of regional
endemics. In addition, a select band of birds is dependent on the dwindling wetlands,
so include these in your itinerary. The transition forest of Zombitse should definitely
be visited. During a stay of two or three weeks and armed with field guides (see
Click
standard birding route is as follows:
EASTERN RAINFOREST
Rainforest birding is best in spring and early summer
(mid-September to January).
Andasibe-Mantadia (Périnet) and surrounds
At Andasibe you can see most of the
broadly distributed rainforest endemics. Specials include collared nightjar, red-fron-
