DARK-HEADED VANGAS and CUCKOO-SHRIKE
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DISTRIBUTION: Recorded throughout Madagascar in all forest types. Fairly common in eastern rainforest, but very rare elsewhere. ID: Rather similar to Pollen’s Vanga but with a much smaller bill. Also reminiscent of Madagascar Cuckooshrike, but has rufous underparts. VOICE: Distinctive song is a three-part whistle: “whit-wer-whiit”. BEHAVIOUR: Singles or pairs often join mixed feeding flocks. Generally found in the upper-storey of the forest. Feeds on invertebrates. E
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Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi
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Length:
21 cm | 8"
WHERE TO SEE: Ranomafana and Andasibe-Mantadia NPs.
Tylas Vanga has been placed in other families, including the oriole family, but recent genetic studies show that it should be placed firmly within the vangas. M
Pollen’s Vanga Xenopirostris polleni
DISTRIBUTION: Uncommon and local in eastern rainforest, although seemingly absent from the north, such as Masoala and Marojejy NPs. ID: Underparts white in male and buffy in female; can look similar to Tylas Vanga, but is always bigger, chunkier, and with a much larger bill. VOICE: Single, penetrating ‘laser gun’ whistle. BEHAVIOUR: Slow-moving species that sometimes joins mixed flocks. Feeds on invertebrates.
Mokazavona Vanga Tylas
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Vangamaintiloha Vanga de Pollen
NEAR THREATENED Length:
24 cm | 9·5"
WHERE TO SEE: Ranomafana NP, especially the Vohiparara Trail. 2a
Two other vangas in Madagascar are similar to Pollen’s Vanga, although their ranges do not overlap. The Endangered Van Dam’s Vanga Xenopirostris damii (not illustrated) is found in western dry forest, mainly within Ankarafantsika NP. The more common Lafresnaye’s Vanga X. xenopirostris 2a is endemic to the southwestern spiny forest and can be seen around Toliara, especially at Ifaty. Female Lafresnaye's Vanga
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Madagascar Cuckoo-shrike Coracina cinerea
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M Vorondavenona Échenilleur Malgache
DISTRIBUTION: Comoros and Madagascar. Fairly Length: 24 cm | 9·5" common throughout Madagascar in all types of forest, WHERE TO SEE: Fairly although unobtrusive. common in almost all forested ID: Although in a completely different family, Madagascar sites, including Ranomafana, Cuckoo-shrike is somewhat similar to the two darkAndasibe-Mantadia, Ankarana, headed vangas above. The grey (rather than white or and Tsingy de Bemaraha NPs. rufous) underparts separate it from both, while its much smaller bill also distinguishes it from Pollen’s Vanga. VOICE: A quiet and easily overlooked series of soft notes. Also a short, explosive call. BEHAVIOUR: Often joins feeding flocks, especially with larger vangas. Like those species, moves slowly through the upper-storey of the forest. Feeds mainly on invertebrates.
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