Madagascar

Checklist of Endemic Bird Species

This list of bird species found exclusively in Madagascar is based on the taxonomy used in del Hoyo & Collar (2014 & 2016). The source list based on the December 2017 update is available online here. For further details on possible inaccuracies in the list see Sources & Caveats.

del Hoyo, J. & N.J. Collar HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. 2014 Vol. 1: Non-passerines & 2016 Vol. 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Additional species recognized after the HBW-BirdLife December 2017 update or considered valid by other major checklists are listed at the bottom of the page.

Margaroperdix madagarensis  (Galliformes Phasianidae)  Madagascar Partridge

Aythya innotata  (Anseriformes Anatidae)  Madagascar Pochard

Anas melleri  (Anseriformes Anatidae)  Meller's Duck

Anas bernieri  (Anseriformes Anatidae)  Madagascar Teal

Tachybaptus pelzelnii  (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae)  Madagascar Grebe

Tachybaptus rufolavatus  (Podicipediformes Podicipedidae)  Alaotra Grebe  (Extinct)

Mesitornis variegatus  (Mesitornithiformes Mesitornithidae)  White-breasted Mesite

Mesitornis unicolor  (Mesitornithiformes Mesitornithidae)  Brown Mesite

Monias benschi  (Mesitornithiformes Mesitornithidae)  Subdesert Mesite

Treron australis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Madagascar Green-pigeon

Alectroenas madagascariensis  (Columbiformes Columbidae)  Madagascar Blue-pigeon

Pterocles personatus  (Pterocliformes Pteroclidae)  Madagascar Sandgrouse

Gactornis enarratus  (Caprimulgiformes Caprimulgidae)  Collared Nightjar

Coua delalandei  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Snail-eating Coua  (Extinct)

Coua gigas  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Giant Coua

Coua coquereli  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Coquerel's Coua

Coua serriana  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Red-breasted Coua

Coua reynaudii  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Red-fronted Coua

Coua cursor  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Running Coua

Coua ruficeps  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Red-capped Coua

Coua olivaceiceps  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Olive-capped Coua

Coua cristata  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Crested Coua

Coua pyropyga  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Chestnut-vented Coua

Coua verreauxi  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Verreaux's Coua

Coua caerulea  (Cuculiformes Cuculidae)  Blue Coua

Sarothrura insularis  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Madagascar Flufftail

Sarothrura watersi  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Slender-billed Flufftail

Mentocrex kioloides  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Madagascar Wood-rail

Mentocrex beankaensis  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Tsingy Wood-rail

Rallus madagascariensis  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Madagascar Rail

Zapornia olivieri  (Gruiformes Rallidae)  Sakalava Rail

Lophotibis cristata  (Pelecaniformes Threskiornithidae)  Madagascar Crested Ibis

Ardea humbloti  (Pelecaniformes Ardeidae)  Madagascar Heron  (Breeding)

Charadrius thoracicus  (Charadriiformes Charadriidae)  Black-banded Plover

Charadrius bifrontatus  (Charadriiformes Charadriidae)  Madagascar Three-banded Plover

Actophilornis albinucha  (Charadriiformes Jacanidae)  Madagascar Jacana

Gallinago macrodactyla  (Charadriiformes Scolopacidae)  Madagascar Snipe

Glareola ocularis  (Charadriiformes Glareolidae)  Madagascar Pratincole  (Breeding)

Tyto soumagnei  (Strigiformes Tytonidae)  Madagascar Red Owl

Athene superciliaris  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  White-browed Owl

Otus rutilus  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Madagascar Scops-owl

Asio madagascariensis  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Madagascar Long-eared Owl

Aviceda madagascariensis  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Cuckoo-hawk

Eutriorchis astur  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Serpent-eagle

Polyboroides radiatus  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Harrier-hawk

Circus macrosceles  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Marsh-harrier

Accipiter madagascariensis  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Sparrowhawk

Accipiter henstii  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Henst's Goshawk

Haliaeetus vociferoides  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Fish-eagle

Buteo brachypterus  (Accipitriformes Accipitridae)  Madagascar Buzzard

Upupa marginata  (Bucerotiformes Upupidae)  Madagascar Hoopoe

Brachypteracias leptosomus  (Coraciiformes Brachypteraciidae)  Short-legged Ground-roller

Geobiastes squamiger  (Coraciiformes Brachypteraciidae)  Scaly Ground-roller

Uratelornis chimaera  (Coraciiformes Brachypteraciidae)  Long-tailed Ground-roller

Atelornis pittoides  (Coraciiformes Brachypteraciidae)  Pitta-like Ground-roller

Atelornis crossleyi  (Coraciiformes Brachypteraciidae)  Rufous-headed Ground-roller

Corythornis madagascariensis  (Coraciiformes Alcedinidae)  Madagascar Pygmy-kingfisher

Falco zoniventris  (Falconiformes Falconidae)  Banded Kestrel

Coracopsis nigra  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Black Parrot

Agapornis canus  (Psittaciformes Psittacidae)  Grey-headed Lovebird

Philepitta castanea  (Passeriformes Philepittidae)  Velvet Asity

Philepitta schlegeli  (Passeriformes Philepittidae)  Schlegel's Asity

Neodrepanis coruscans  (Passeriformes Philepittidae)  Common Sunbird-Asity

Neodrepanis hypoxantha  (Passeriformes Philepittidae)  Yellow-bellied Sunbird-asity

Ceblepyris cinereus  (Passeriformes Campephagidae)  Madagascar Cuckooshrike

Newtonia archboldi  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Archbold's Newtonia

Newtonia brunneicauda  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Common Newtonia

Newtonia fanovanae  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Red-tailed Newtonia

Newtonia amphichroa  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Northern Dark Newtonia

Tylas eduardi  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Tylas Vanga

Calicalicus madagascariensis  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Red-tailed Vanga

Calicalicus rufocarpalis  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Red-shouldered Vanga

Hypositta corallirostris  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Nuthatch Vanga

Leptopterus chabert  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Chabert Vanga

Cyanolanius madagascarinus  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Madagascar Blue Vanga

Mystacornis crossleyi  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Crossley's Vanga

Pseudobias wardi  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Ward's Flycatcher

Vanga curvirostris  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Hook-billed Vanga

Schetba rufa  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Rufous Vanga

Euryceros prevostii  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Helmet Vanga

Xenopirostris polleni  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Pollen's Vanga

Xenopirostris xenopirostris  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Lafresnaye's Vanga

Xenopirostris damii  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Van Dam's Vanga

Oriolia bernieri  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Bernier's Vanga

Falculea palliata  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  Sickle-billed Vanga

Artamella viridis  (Passeriformes Vangidae)  White-headed Vanga

Eremopterix hova  (Passeriformes Alaudidae)  Madagascar Lark

Neomixis viridis  (Passeriformes Cisticolidae)  Green Jery

Neomixis tenella  (Passeriformes Cisticolidae)  Common Jery

Neomixis striatigula  (Passeriformes Cisticolidae)  Stripe-throated Jery

Neomixis pallidior  (Passeriformes Cisticolidae)  Subdesert Jery

Nesillas lantzii  (Passeriformes Acrocephalidae)  Subdesert Brush-warbler

Acrocephalus newtoni  (Passeriformes Acrocephalidae)  Madagascar Swamp-warbler

Bradypterus brunneus  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Brown Emu-tail

Amphilais seebohmi  (Passeriformes Locustellidae)  Madagascar Grassbird

Oxylabes madagascariensis  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  White-throated Oxylabes

Bernieria madagascariensis  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Long-billed Tetraka

Hartertula flavoviridis  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Wedge-tailed Tetraka

Thamnornis chloropetoides  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Thamnornis

Xanthomixis zosterops  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Spectacled Tetraka

Xanthomixis apperti  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Appert's Tetraka

Xanthomixis cinereiceps  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Grey-crowned Tetraka

Crossleyia tenebrosa  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Dusky Tetraka

Crossleyia xanthophrys  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Madagascar Yellowbrow

Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Cryptic Warbler

Randia pseudozosterops  (Passeriformes Bernieridae)  Rand's Warbler

Riparia cowani  (Passeriformes Hirundinidae)  Madagascar Plain Martin

Hartlaubius auratus  (Passeriformes Sturnidae)  Madagascar Starling

Copsychus pica  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Pelzeln's Magpie-robin

Copsychus albospecularis  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Madagascar Magpie-robin

Monticola imerina  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Littoral Rock-thrush

Monticola erythronotus  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Amber Mountain Rock-thrush

Monticola sharpei  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Forest Rock-thrush

Cinnyris notatus  (Passeriformes Nectariniidae)  Long-billed Sunbird

Foudia madagascariensis  (Passeriformes Ploceidae)  Red Fody

Foudia omissa  (Passeriformes Ploceidae)  Forest Fody

Ploceus nelicourvi  (Passeriformes Ploceidae)  Nelicourvi Weaver

Ploceus sakalava  (Passeriformes Ploceidae)  Sakalava Weaver

Lepidopygia nana  (Passeriformes Estrildidae)  Madagascar Munia

Motacilla flaviventris  (Passeriformes Motacillidae)  Madagascar Wagtail

The following additional endemic species are not recognized as distinct by HBW-BirdLife but are considered valid by one or more of the following checklists: eBird/Clements v2019 (Cornell) = 1, IOC 10.1 (IOC) = 2, and Howard & Moore 4.1 (TAS) = 3.

Otus madagascariensis  (Strigiformes Strigidae)  Torotoroka Scops-owl  12

Saxicola sibilla  (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)  Madagascar Stonechat  2