MADAGASCAR: The Wonders of the “8th Continent” A Tropical Birding Custom Trip
November 2-27, 2017 Guide: Ken Behrens
All photos taken during this trip by Ken Behrens unless noted otherwise
Photo to the left shows a Short-legged Ground-Roller.
TOUR SUMMARY
Madagascar has long been a core destination for Tropical Birding, and with the opening of a satellite office in the country several years ago, we further solidified our expertise in the “Eighth Continent.” This custom trip followed an itinerary similar to that of our main set-departure tour, including both the “northwestern endemics” and “Helmet Vanga” extensions. Although we made an effort to see as many endemic birds and other animals as possible, this was by no means a hard-core or fast-paced trip; we took lots of time off, and had many relaxed days. The limited number of targets in Madagascar means that with good planning, it is possible to assemble a great list while maintaining only a moderate pace, especially on a custom tour for a group of people with shared goals. One advantage of approaching a trip this way is that it leaves time to enjoy the luxurious premises of some of the wonderful hotels where we stay! Although this trip had a definite bird bias, it was really a general natural history tour. We took our time in observing and photographing whatever we could find, from lemurs to chameleons to bizarre invertebrates. Madagascar is rich in wonderful birds, and we enjoyed these to the fullest. But its mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and insects are just as wondrous and accessible, and a
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 trip that ignored them would be sorely missing out. We also took time to enjoy the cultural riches of Madagascar, the small villages full of shyly waving children, the zebu carts which seem straight out of the Middle Ages, and the ingeniously engineered rice paddies. If you want to come to Madagascar and see it all… come with Tropical Birding!
Red-fronted Coua was just one of nine fabulous coua species that we enjoyed during this trip.
Madagascar is well known to pose some logistical challenges, especially in the form of the national airline Air Madagascar, but we enjoyed perfectly smooth sailing on this tour. Going to and from Masoala on charter flights made things particularly easy for that leg. We stayed in the most comfortable hotels available at each stop on the itinerary, including some that have just recently opened, and savored some remarkably good food, which many people rank as the best they have ever had on any birding tour. Especially considering that Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries, the fine food and excellent lodging that you’re able to enjoy on a tour of the country are
quite remarkable.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 The birding was great; we recorded 191 species, including virtually all of the endemics and other specialties possible on our route. Our only “misses” were Banded Kestrel and Yellow- breasted Sunbird-Asity, both of which seemed to have largely abandoned their usual haunts this year. As Despite an unseasonably early rain in the spiny forest, we had great views of Long-tailed Ground-Roller. usual, the highlight was seeing all five of the incredible ground-rollers, from the roadrunner-like Long-tailed of the spiny forest to the wonderful rainforest-dwelling Scaly. There was a strong cast of vangas, including the range-restricted Red-shouldered, anpitta-like Crossley’s, huge Sickle-billed, all all three of the scarce Xenopirostris vangas: Pollen’s, Lafresnaye’s, and Van Dam’s. As normal, the couas were also favorites. From the shy and beautiful Red-breasted of the eastern rainforest to the huge Giant Coua of the dry western forest, to the elusive Verreaux’s Coua of the southwest, we were looking for and at couas virtually every day. The bizarre mesites form a Malagasy endemic family, and we had superb views of all three members of the family: Brown, White-breasted, and Subdesert. Our views of Brown Mesite, at no farther than one meter away, were particularly memorable. The asities form yet another endemic family, and we saw three quarters of its When you can take a headshot photo of a Brown Mesite… you had a really good view! members: Schlegel’s and Velvet Asity, and
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 Common Sunbird-Asity. The Malagasy “warblers” or “greenbuls” were recently found to constitute an endemic family, the Bernieridae. Most of these birds are not colorful, but there is much to be enjoyed in their subtly different shapes and drastically different feeding strategies. In Zombitse we saw the highly localized and rare Appert’s Tetraka, at Ranomafana the incredibly elusive Madagascar Yellowbrow, and sightings of the hefty Long-billed Tetraka in several places were thoroughly appreciated. Cryptic Warbler (which isn’t actually a warbler!) proved quite elusive, but was eventually spotted and scoped singing away from a dead tree on a distant ridgeline at Ranomafana.
Red-tailed Tropicbird with a fuzzy chick on the small and paradisiacal island of Nosy Ve.
The colony of gorgeous Red-tailed Tropicbirds on Nosy Ve was much enjoyed and photographed as always, though numbers of birds around the island were worryingly low this year. Madagascar Crested Ibis is one of the toughest birds on this tour, but this year we were treated to a bird on a nest, though unfortunately, only the top of the head was visible. Our boat trip on the
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 Betsiboka Delta, near Majunga, turned up the two major targets there: mudflat-feeding Bernier’s Teal and “Madagascar” Sacred Ibis. We had excellent views of Madagascar Sparrowhawk and Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk, two of the island’s most elusive raptors. Coastal sites held good shorebirding as normal, and we spotted Greater Painted-snipes, Madagascar Plover, and the much-wanted Crab Plover, which makes up its own family. In the eastern rainforest, we enjoyed astoundingly good views of three Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher at Ranomafana NP. tough rails: Madagascar Flufftail, Madagascar Rail, and Madagascar Wood-Rail. Owls and nightjars were well represented; we had great looks at Madagascar and Torotoroko Scops-Owls, White-browed Owl, Madagascar Long-eared Owl, and Collared Nightjar. A Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher that shot into view and perched a few feet in front of the group was a real crowd pleaser. The bright orange coloration of this tiny forest-dwelling kingfisher almost seems to glow in the dark forest interior. OK, the birding was great. But in Madagascar the birding is only part of the story. Of course, we run birding tours, and the birds have priority in some sense. However, one of the amazing things about tours to this island is that you can also see an astounding array of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies, Collared Nightjar with two chicks on the forest floor in the Analamazaotra reserve.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 and other wildlife, without sacrificing a single bird. Sometimes birding tours see more mammals than do devoted “mammaling” tours! The “mammaling” on this tour was exceptional. Overall, we recorded 39 mammals, most of which were lemurs, from the tiny mouse-lemurs up to Indri and Diademed Sifaka, the largest living species. Between were a captivating range of dwarf lemurs, spunky sportive lemurs, the tree- clinging Moore’s Woolly Lemur, a
variety of brown lemurs, and the Indri is the largest living lemur, and sings an unforgettable song from the rainforest canopy. big and beautiful Black-and-white and Red Ruffed Lemurs. There were some great non-lemur mammals too, such as the cute little Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec, hefty Common Tenrec, and a Ring-tailed Vontsira (formerly known as “mongoose”). This was also an excellent tour for reptiles; we racked up 57 species. And this total would have been even higher if the weather in the reptile-rich southwest hadn’t been unusually cloudy and rainy (weather which also depressed our butterfly tally for that portion of the trip). The chameleons alone showed incredible diversity; we saw 15 species, including the world’s two
A rather bashful-looking Crowned Sifaka, one of five largest chameleons, and one of wonderful sifaka species that we saw on this trip.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 its smallest. Geckos were spectacular. Perhaps best of all were the Satanic and Common Leaf- tailed Geckos, some of the best- camouflaged animals on earth, but it had strong support from a bunch of cryptic dwarf geckos and beautiful blazing- green day geckos. The presence of iguanids or “swifts” on Madagascar is a mysterious fact of biogeography, making us especially appreciate seeing four species of swifts (the lizards, not the birds!). The boas are another Malagasy biogeographic mystery, and were also the serpentine highlight; we saw Dumeril’s Boa and Eastern Madagascar Tree Boa, a gentle snake that always looks like it’s smiling – as likely a snake as any to win the heart of a ophidiophobe! Madagascar is also amphibian paradise, with an astounding diversity of frogs for a relatively small landmass. We recorded 32 species of frogs, of which 24 were seen. These included the colorful Baron’s Mantella and the beautiful little Folohy Madagascar Frog. We were once again in full “butterfly mode” on this trip as well. We identified 47 species of butterflies, the majority of
Koch’s Day Gecko in Ankarafantsika NP. which were endemics. Some of the highlights included the massive
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 Madagascar Giant Swallowtail, many sightings of the enigmatic Madagascar Metalmarks, the truly Brilliant Blue, and Madagascar Malachite Swallowtail, just to name a few. Two amazing moths were also highlights: the huge Comet Moth, and the splendid and very butterfly-like Madagascar Sunset Moth. Other prized invertebrate sightings included the famous Giraffe-necked Weevil and the less well-known but biogeographically fascinating pillbug millipede.
The Brilliant Blue is endemic to the Malagasy region, and is brilliant indeed. This was just one of nearly 50 species of butterflies seen and identified during this trip.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 ITINERARY
November 2 Arrival in Antananarivo. November 3 Antananarivo to Ankarafantsika NP. November 4 Ankarafantsika NP. November 5 Ankarafantsika to Majunga. November 6 Betsiboka Delta boat trip. November 7 Majunga to Tana. November 8 Flight from Tana to Tulear. Drive to Ifaty. November 9 Ifaty. November 10 Ifaty to Tulear. November 11 Boat trip to Nosy Ve and Anakao. November 12 Tulear. November 13 Tulear to Zombitse NP to Isalo. November 14 Isalo to Ranomafana National Park. November 15-16 Ranomafana National Park. November 17 Ranomafana to Antsirabe. November 18 Antsirabe to Andasibe. November 19 Analamazoatra NP. November 20 Mantadia NP. November 21 Andasibe to Tana November 22 Tana to Masoala. November 23-25 Masoala NP. November 26 Masoala to Tana. November 27 Departure from Tana.
While flying out of Antananarivo on the way to Masoala, we had rather epic views of the capital city.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 PHOTO GALLERY Follows tour’s chronology
Handsome denizens of the dry forest: Rufous Vanga (left) and Madagascar Magpie-Robin (right).
Coquerel’s Coua striding across the path in Ankarafantsika NP.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Cuckoo-Roller is taxonomically Madagascar’s most bizarre and distinctive bird.
African Pygmy-Geese on a pond near Ankarafantsika.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Four-lined Snake (left) and Madagascar Blue Vanga (right).
White-breasted Mesite, one of three members of the Malagasy endemic mesite family.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
This young male Schlegel’s Asity already sported the gaudy caruncles of a breeding adult male.
Madagascar Coucal in its glossy black breeding plumage.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
We saw “Madagascar” Sacred Ibis (left) and “Dimorphic” Little Egret (right) on the Betsiboka mudflats.
The odd little Bernier’s Teal is the main target of our Betsiboka Delta boat trip.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
This Yellow-billed Stork came as a surprise on the Betsiboka. The Malagasy birds represent an endemic subspecies, which is quite uncommon.
Sifakas like this Crowned Sifaka have an intense stare!
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
This magnificent Comb Duck was showing off its iridescent wings.
In Tana, we visited Lac Tsarasaotra, a gem of an urban sanctuary that supports birds like White-faced Whistling-Duck (left) and Madagascar Kingfisher (right).
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Hoopoe (left) and male Souimanga Sunbird (right) in the spiny forest of the southwest.
A soggy Running Coua on our bizarrely rainy morning in the spiny forest.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Plover is a rare beauty.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Nocturnal spiny forest inhabitants: Commerson’s Leaf-nosed Bat (left) and Petter’s Sportive-Lemur (right).
A pair of Madagascar Plovers having a tiff with a White-fronted Plover.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Lark is a common endemic, found in open habitats throughout the island.
Madagascar Bee-eater is the only bee-eater on the 8th Continent.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
We had tremendous views of Baillon’s Crake at the Belalanda Ponds.
Malagasy LBJ endemics: Madagascar Swamp-Warbler (left) and Madagascar Cisticola (right).
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
We had a good number of Hottentot Teal at Belalanda.
A female Red-shouldered Vanga on La Table, near Tulear.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Crab Plover makes up its own, monotypic, bird family. We sighted these three on Nosy Ve.
Crab Plover (left) and Sakalava Weaver (right).
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Littoral Rock-Thrush can be seen in the seaside town of Anakao.
“Green-capped” Red-capped Coua is restricted to southwestern Madagascar.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Common Malagasy birds: female Souimanga Sunbird (left) and Chabert Vanga (right).
Merrem’s Madagascar Swift, a member of the Malagasy endemic iguanid family.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
At Zombitse NP, we had superb views of Giant Coua after a long search.
A couple of “Commons”: Common Newtonia (left) and Common Jery (right).
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A couple of the prize sightings: Marsh Owl (left) and Madagascar Pratincole (right).
Standing’s Day Gecko (left), and Green-veined Charaxes (right), a scarce and beautiful endemic butterfly.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Ring-tailed Lemur: one of the most charismatic of Madagascar’s many lemurs.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Uncommon beasts of the eastern rainforest: Wedge-tailed Jery (left) and Red-bellied Lemur (right).
Madagascar Green Sunbird, a gorgeous bird in the right light.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Milne-Edwards Sifaka is only found in southeastern Madagascar.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko (left) and Greater Bamboo Lemur (right).
Madagascar Snipe in a rice paddy near Ranomafana National Park.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Blue Vanga, one of the most beautiful of Madagascar’s bounty of vangas.
The landscapes of the Malagasy highlands are distinctive and fascinating; travelling here is a bit like going back in time to the Middle Ages.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A Crowned Sifaka showing off the impressive leaping abilities possessed by all sifakas.
Madagascar Mannikin is the smallest of Madagascar’s endemic birds.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Madagascar Blue-Pigeon on a rainy day at Mantadia National Park.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A nesting Spectacled Tetraka (left) and Lesser Gray Bamboo Lemur (right).
Mascarene Martin is a Madagascar breeding endemic.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A Madagascar Wood-Rail (left) at Analamazaotra, and a Folohy Madagascar Frog (right) at Mantadia.
A Scaly Ground-Roller about to feed a White-whiskered Madagascar Frog to its hungry chicks: one endemic feeding on another!
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
We had amazing views of a Madagascar Rail.
Blue Coua is really, really blue when seen in the right light.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Another look at the fabulous Madagascar Blue-Pigeon.
The Madagascar Wagtail is a common species in the Malagasy highlands.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A couple slices of the High Plateau landscape, as seen from a charter plane on the way to Masoala.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
A male Panther Chameleon on Nosy Mangabe, on the way to the Masoala peninsula.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
On our first morning on Masoala, we found a mega flock that contained both baby (left) and adult (below) Helmet Vangas, several Bernier’s Vangas (see next page), and a couple of Madagascar Coucals (right).
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Female (left) and male (right) Bernier’s Vangas.
Bernier’s Vangas are usually found in and around pandanus trees.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Red Ruffed Lemur is one of the marquee species of the Masoala Peninsula.
Red-breasted Coua is wonderfully common, though still elusive, on Masoala.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017
Brown Leaf Chameleon (left) and Lesser Crested Tern (right).
In primary rainforest on Masoala, we saw a Helmet Vanga nest.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 BIRD LIST
Taxonomy and nomenclature follow The Clements Checklist of the Birds of the World v2017 (including updates through August 2017).
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl) White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata Comb (Knob-billed) Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus E EN Meller's Duck Anas melleri Red-billed Duck (Teal) Anas erythrorhyncha Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota E EN Bernier's Teal Anas bernieri Numididae (Guineafowl) Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies) Margaroperdix E Madagascar Partridge madagascarensis Podicipedidae (Grebes) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis E VU Madagascar (Little) Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos) Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus NBM NT Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds) Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda Ciconiidae (Storks) Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags) Essp Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus pictilis Scopidae (Hamerkop) Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) Essp Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus podiceps Essp Gray Heron Ardea cinerea firasa E EN Humblot's Heron Ardea humbloti Ardea purpurea Essp Purple Heron madagascariensis Great (White) Egret Ardea alba RE Little (Dimorphic) Egret Egretta garzetta dimorpha Black Heron (Egret) Egretta ardesiaca Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (Common) Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides BE EN Madagascar (Squacco) Pond-Heron Ardeola idae Essp Striated (Green-backed) Heron Butorides striata rutenbergi Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 E NT Madagascar (Crested) Ibis Lophotibis cristata Essp EN (Malagasy) Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus bernieri Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) E Madagascar Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides radiatus E Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda madagascariensis E VU Reunion Harrier Circus macrosceles RE Frances's Goshawk (Sparrowhawk) Accipiter francesii francesii E NT Madagascar Sparrowhawk Accipiter madagascariensis E NT Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii NBM Black (Yellow-billed) Kite Milvus migrans (parasitus) E CR Madagascar Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides E Madagascar Buzzard Buteo brachypterus Mesitornithidae (Mesites) E VU White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegata E VU Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor E VU Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots) E VU Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis RE White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri cuvieri Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus pyrrhorrhoa Sarothruridae (Flufftails) E Madagascar Wood-Rail Canirallus kioloides E Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets) Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings) NBM Black-bellied (Grey) Plover Pluvialis squatarola NBM Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus NBM Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius NBM Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula E VU Madagascar Plover Charadrius thoracicus Essp Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris bifrontatus Essp White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus tenellus Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes) Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis Jacanidae (Jacanas) E NT Madagascar Jacana Actophilornis albinucha Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies) NBM Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus NBM Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica NBM Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres NBM Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea NBM Sanderling Calidris alba E VU Madagascan Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla NBM Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus NBM Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 NBM Common Greenshank Tringa stagnatilis NBM Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Turnicidae (Buttonquail) E Madagascar Buttonquail Turnix nigricollis Dromadidae (Crab Plover) NBM Crab Plover Dromas ardeola Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers) BE VU Madagascar Pratincole Glareola ocularis Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers) NBM Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi Great Crested (Swift) Tern Thalasseus bergii NBM Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse) E Madagascar Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves) I Rock Pigeon (Dove) Columba livia RE Madagascar Turtle-Dove Streptopelia picturata picturata Essp Namaqua Dove Oena capensis aliena RE Madagascar Green-Pigeon Treron australis xenius/australis E Madagascar Blue-Pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis Cuculidae (Cuckoos) E Crested Coua Coua cristata E NT Verreaux's Coua Coua verreauxi E Blue Coua Coua caerulea E Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps ruficeps E [Green-capped Coua] [Coua ruficeps olivaceiceps] E Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii E Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli E Running Coua Coua cursor E Giant Coua Coua gigas E Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana RE Madagascar Coucal Centropus toulou toulou BE Madagascar (Lesser) Cuckoo Cuculus rochii Tytonidae (Barn-Owls) Barn Owl Tyto alba affinis Strigidae (Owls) E Malagasy (Rainforest) Scops-Owl Otus rutilus E Torotoroka Scops-Owl Otus madagascariensis E Madagascar Long-eared Owl Asio madagascariensis Essp (African) Marsh Owl Asio capensis hova E White-browed Owl Ninox superciliaris Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and allies) E Collared Nightjar Gactornis enarratus Caprimulgus m. RE Madagascar Nightjar madagascariensis Apodidae (Swifts) Zoonavena grandidieri RE Malagasy Spinetail (Mad. Sp-Swift) grandidieri Essp Alpine Swift Apus melba willsi
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 RE Madagascar (Black) Swift Apus balstoni balstoni Little Swift Apus affinis Essp African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus gracilis Leptosomidae (Cuckoo-Roller) RE (Madagascar) Cuckoo-Roller Leptosomus discolor Upupidae (Hoopoes) E Madagascar Hoopoe Upupa marginata Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) Corythornis vintsioides Essp Malagasy (Madagascar) Kingfisher vintsioides E Madagascar Pygmy-Kingfisher Corythornis madagascariensis Meropidae (Bee-eaters) Madagascar Bee-eater Merops superciliosus Coraciidae (Rollers) BEssp Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus glaucurus Brachypteraciidae (Ground-Rollers) E VU Short-legged Ground-Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus E VU Scaly Ground-Roller Brachypteracias squamiger E Pitta-like Ground-Roller Atelornis pittoides E NT Rufous-headed Ground-Roller Atelornis crossleyi E VU Long-tailed Ground-Roller Uratelornis chimaera Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras) RE Madagascar Kestrel Falco newtoni NBM Eleonora's Falcon Falco eleonorae NBM NT Sooty Falcon Falco concolor Psittaculidae (Old World Parrots) RE Greater Vasa-Parrot Coracopsis vasa vasa/drouhardi RE Lesser Vasa-Parrot Coracopsis nigra nigra/libs E Grey-headed Lovebird Agapornis canus Philepittidae (Asities) E Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea E NT Schlegel's Asity Philepitta schlegeli E (Common) Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis coruscans Vangidae (Vangas & Helmetshrikes) E Archbold's Newtonia Newtonia archboldi E Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda E Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa E Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi E Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus madagascariensis E VU Red-shouldered Vanga Calicalicus rufocarpalis E Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris E Chabert Vanga Leptopterus chabert E Crossley's Vanga (Babbler) Mystacornis crossleyi RE (Madagascar) Blue Vanga Cyanolanius m. madagascarinus E Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris E Ward's Flycatcher (Vanga) Pseudobias wardi E Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa E VU Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 E VU Bernier's Vanga Oriola bernieri E Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata E White-headed Vanga Artamella (Leptopterus) viridis E NT Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni E Lafresnaye's Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris E EN Van Dam's Vanga Xenopirostris damii Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes) RE Ashy (Madagascar) Cuckoo-shrike Coracina cinerea cinerea Dicruridae (Drongos) RE Crested Drongo Dicrurus forficatus forficatus Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers) RE Madagascar Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata mutata Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies) Pied Crow Corvus albus Alaudidae (Larks) E Madagascar Lark Mirafra hova Hirundinidae (Swallows) Essp Plain (Brown-throated) Martin Riparia paludicola cowani RE Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica NBM Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls) RE Madagascar Bulbul Hypsipetes m. madagascariensis Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies) RE Madagascar Brush-Warbler Nesillas typica typica E Subdesert Brush-Warbler Nesillas lantzi E Madagascar Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus newtoni Locustellidae (Grassbirds and Allies) E Brown Emu-tail Bradypterus brunneus E Gray Emu-tail Amphilais seebohmi Bernieridae (Malagasy Warblers) E White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes madagascariensis E Long-billed Bernieria (Greenbul) Bernieria madagascariensis E Cryptic Warbler Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi E NT Wedge-tailed Jery Hartertula flavoviridis E Thamnornis (Warbler) Thamnornis chloropetoides E NT Yellow-browed Oxylabes Crossleyia xanthophrys E Spectacled Tetraka (Greenbul) Xanthornixis zosterops E VU Appert's Tetraka (Greenbul) Xanthornixis apperti E NT Grey-crowned Tetraka Xanthornixis cinereiceps E Rand's Warbler Randia pseudozosterops Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies) E Common Jery Neomixis tenella E Green Jery Neomixis viridis E Stripe-throated Jery Neomixis striatigula RE Madagascar Cisticola Cisticola cherina Zosteropidae (White-eyes) RE Madagascar White-eye Zosterops maderaspatanus Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 E Madagascar Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis E Forest Rock-Thrush Monticola sharpei sharpei E [Benson's Rock-Thrush] [Monticola sharpei bensoni] E Littoral Rock-Thrush Monticola imerina Essp African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus sibilla Sturnidae (Starlings) I Common Myna Acridotheres tristis E Madagascar Starling Saroglossa aurata Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters) RE Souimanga Sunbird Cinnyris souimanga s./apolis RE Madagascar (Green) Sunbird Cinnyris notatus notatus Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits) E Madagascar Wagtail Motacilla flaviventris Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) I House Sparrow Passer domesticus Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies) E Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi E Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava RE Red (Magagascar) Fody Foudia madagascariensis E Forest Fody Foudia omissa Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies) E Madagascar Munia (Mannikin) Lonchura nana
E - Endemic CR - Critically Endangered Essp - Endemic subspecies EN - Endangered BE - Breeding endemic VU - Vulnerable RE - Regional endemic NT - Near-threatened I - Introduced DD - Data Deficient [brackets] = a taxon not split in the Clements list
Meller’s Duck is an increasingly rare endemic bird.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 MAMMAL LIST
Taxonomy and nomenclature for lemurs follow Conservation International’s Lemurs of Madagascar (2010) by Russell Mittermeier et al. For other mammals, taxonomy and nomenclature follow Mammals of Madagascar (2007) by Nick Garbutt.
Cheirogaleidae (Mouse & Dwarf Lemurs) E Gray-brown Mouse Lemur Microcebus griseorufus E Gray Mouse Lemur Microcebus murinus E EN Golden-brown Mouse Lemur Microcebus ravelobensis E VU Rufous Mouse Lemur Microcebus rufus E VU Goodman's Mouse Lemur Microcebus lehilahytsara E EN Mittermeier's Mouse Lemur Microcebus mittermeieri E Hairy-eared Dwarf Lemur Allocebus trichotis E DD Greater Dwarf Lemur Cheirogaleus major G E DD Crossley's Dwarf Lemur Cheirogaleus crossleyi E Fat-tailed Dwarf Lemur Cheirogaleus medius Lepilemuridae (Sportive Lemurs) E EN Milne-Edward’s Sportive Lemur Lepilemur edwardsi E EN Zombitse Sportive Lemur Lepilemur hubbardi E VU Petter's Sportive Lemur Lepilemur petteri Lemuridae (True Lemurs) E VU Eastern Lesser (Gray) Bamboo Lemur Hapalemur griseus E VU Ranomafana Bamboo Lemur Hapalemur g. ranomafanensis E CE Golden Bamboo Lemur Hapalemur aureus E CE Greater Bamboo Lemur Prolemur simus E EN Ring-tailed Lemur Lemur catta E NT Common Brown Lemur Eulemur fulvus E VU Red-fronted Brown Lemur Eulemur rufus E EN White-fronted Brown Lemur Eulemur albifrons E VU Red-bellied Lemur Eulemur rubriventer E CE Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur Varecia variegata E CE Red Ruffed Lemur Varecia rubra Indridae (Woolly Lemurs, Sifakas & Indri) E EN Moore´s Woolly Lemur (Avahi) Avahi mooreorum E EN Verreaux’s Sifaka Propithecus verreauxi E EN Coquerel's Sifaka Propithecus coquereli E CE Diademed Sifaka Propithecus diadema E EN Milne-Edwards Sifaka Propithecus edwardsi E EN Crowned Sifaka Propithecus coronatus E CE Indri Indri Indri Eupleridae (Malagasy Carnivores) E Ring-tailed Vontsira (Mongoose) Galidia elegans Pteropodidae (Fruit Bats) E VU Madagascar Flying Fox Pteropus rufus Hipposideridae (Old World Leaf-nosed Bats) E NT Commerson's Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros commersoni
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 Tenrecidae (Tenrecs) E Common Tenrec Tenrec ecaudatus E Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec Echinops telfairi E Lowland Streaked Tenrec Hemicentetes semispinosus Nesomyidae (African Rodents) E Tuft-tailed Rat Eliurus sp. E Eastern Red Forest Rat Nesomys rufus Muridae (Old World Rats & Mice) I Black Rat Rattus rattus
E - Endemic I - Introduced G - Only seen by guide
Crowned Sifaka.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 REPTILE LIST
Taxonomy and nomenclature follow A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar: Third Edition (2007) by Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences, with some updates based on subsequent scientific papers.
Testudinidae E CE Spider Tortoise Pyxis arachnoides Crocodylidae Essp? Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Chamaeleonidae E EN Antongil Leaf Chameleon Brookesia peyrierasi E Brown Leaf Chameleon Brookesia superciliaris E Short-horned Chameleon Calumma brevicorne E Big Nose Chameleon Calumma nasutum E Perinet (Band-bellied) Chameleon Calumma gastrotaenia E NT Parson's (Giant) Chameleon Calumma parsonii E VU O'Shaughnessy's Chameleon Calumma oshaughnessyi E EN Glaw's Chameleon Calumma glawi E Cryptic (Blue-legged) Chameleon Calumma crypticum E DD Deceptive Short-horned Chameleon Calumma fallax E EN Globe-horned Chameleon Calumma globifer E VU White-lined Chameleon Furcifer antimena E Oustalet's Chameleon Furcifer oustaleti E Warty Chameleon Furcifer verrucosus E Panther Chameleon Furcifer pardalis Opluridae E Three-eyed Lizard Chalarodon madagascariensis RE Cuvier's Madagascar Swift Oplurus cuvieri E Merrem's Madagascar Swift Oplurus cyclurus E Dumeril's Madagascar Swift Oplurus quadrimaculatus Gekkonidae E Common Leaf-tailed Gecko Uroplatus fimbriatus E Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko Uroplatus phantasticus E Mossy Leaf-tailed Gecko Uroplatus sikorae E Sakalava Madagascar Velvet Gecko Blaesodactylus sakalava E DD Ambonihazo Madagascar Velvet Gecko Blaesodactylus ambonihazo Common House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Gray's Leaf-toed Gecko Hemidactylus mercatorius RE Madagascar Clawless Gecko Ebenavia inunguis E Grandidier's Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus tolampyae E Dwarf Gecko sp. (undescribed species?) Lygodactylus sp. E Painted Dwarf Gecko Lycodactylus pictus E Speckled Day Gecko Phelsuma guttata E Koch's Day Gecko Phelsuma kochi E V Standing's Day Gecko Phelsuma standingi E Lined Day Gecko Phelsuma lineata
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 RE Gold-dust Day Gecko Phelsuma laticauda E Small Lined Day Gecko Phelsuma pusilla E Peacock Day Gecko Phelsuma quadriocellata Gerrhosauridae E Malagasy Keeled Plated Lizard Tracheloptychus madagascarensis RE Madagascar Plated Lizard Zonosaurus madagascariensis E Western Plated Lizard Zonosaurus laticaudatus E Brygoo's Plated Lizard Zonosaurus brygooi Scincidae E Gravenhorst's Skink Trachylepis gravenhorstii E Elegant Skink Trachylepis elegans E Gold-spotted Skink Trachylepis aureopunctata E Dumas's Skink Trachylepis dumasi Boidae E Eastern Madagascar Tree Boa Sanzinia madagascariensis E Duméril's Ground Boa Acrantophis dumereli Colubridae E Madagascar Cat-eyed Snake Madagascarophis colubrinus E Giant Hognose Snake Leioheterodon madagascariensis E Gluttonous Bighead Snake Compsophis laphystius E Gold-collared Snake Liophidium rhodogaster E Six-lined Water Snake Liopholidophis sexlineatus E Striped Madagascar Garter Snake Thamnosophis lateralis E Four-striped Snake Thamnosophis quadrilineatus E Mahafaly Sand Snake Mimophis mahfalensis
E - Endemic RE - Regional Endemic
Short-legged Ground-Roller.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 AMPHIBIAN LIST
Taxonomy and nomenclature follow A Field Guide to the Amphibians and Reptiles of Madagascar: Third Edition (2007) by Frank Glaw and Miguel Vences, with some updates based on subsequent scientific papers.
Dicroglossidae Mascarene Ridged Frog Ptychadena mascareniensis Hyperoliidae E Starry Night Reed Frog Heterixalus alboguttatus H E Betsileo Reed Frog Heterixalus betsileo Microhylidae E Stump-toed Frog Stumpffia sp. E Mahanoro Tree-hole Frog Plethodontohyla notosticta E Plethodontohyla inguinalis H
E Anodonthyla moramora Mantellidae E Madagascar Jumping Frog Aglyptodactylus madagascariensis E Domergue’s Pointy Frog Blommersia domerguei E Madagascar Bright-eyed Frog Boophis madagascariensis E Western Bright-eyed Frog Boophis doulioti E Goudot's Bright-eyed Frog Boophis goudotii E Red-eyed Bright-eyed Frog Boophis luteus E Fiery Bright-eyed Frog Boophis pyrrhus H E Tsarafidy Pandanus Frog Guibermantis pulcher E Variable Pandanus Frog Guibermantis variabilis E Rough Bridge Frog Gephyromantis asper H E Engraved Bridge Frog Gephyromantis sculpturatus H E Enk's Bridge Frog Gephyromantis enki E Beige Bridge Frog Gephyromantis luteus E Boulenger's Bridge Frog Gephyromantis boulengeri E Tschenk's Bridge Frog Gephyromantis tschenki E Warty Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus ulcerosus H E Charlotte's Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus charlotteae E White-whiskered Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus melanopleura E Betsileo Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus betsileanus H E Ivohimanita Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus majori E Central Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus opiparis E Mantidactylus sp. aff. grandidieri N. H E Folohy Madagascar Frog Mantidactylus argenteus E Baron's Mantella Mantella baroni E Climbing Mantella Mantella laevigata
E - Endemic H - Heard-only
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 BUTTERFLY & MOTH LIST
Papilionidae E Cream-lined Swallowtail Papilio delalandei Citrus Swallowtail Papilio demodocus E Banded Blue Swallowtail Papilio oribazus RE Spotted Blue Swallowtail Papilio epiphorbas E Madagascar Malachite Swallowtail Graphium cyrnus E Madagascar Lady Graphium endochus E Madagascar Giant Swallowtail Pharmacophagus antenor Pieridae Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta pulchella Angled Grass Yellow Eurema desjardinsii Marsh Grass Yellow Eurema halape Migrant sp. Catopsilia sp. RE Madagascar Orange Tip Colotis evanthe E Madagascar Arab Colotis mananhari E Madagascar Purple Tip Colotis zoe E Giant Orange Tip Colotis lucasi E Madagascar Caper White Belenois helcida Essp African Common White Belenois creona prorsus E Madagascar Dotted Border Mylothris phileris Diverse White Appias epaphia orbona Rionidae E Madagascar Metalmark Saribia sp. Lycanidae Gaika Blue Zizula hylax Nymphalidae African Monarch Danaus chrysippus aegyptius Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda helena E Madagascar Satyr Strabena sp. E Indian Ocean Satyr sp. Heteropsis parva / iboina E Indian Ocean Satyr sp. Heteropsis laetifica E Indian Ocean Satyr sp. Heteropsis fraterna E Indian Ocean Satyr sp. Heteropsis pauper E Indian Ocean Satyr sp. Heteropsis vola E Madagascar Green-veined Charaxes Charaxes antamboulou E Banded Commodore Precis andremiaja E Gold-striped Commodore Precis eurodoce Essp Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta paris Blue Pansy Junonia oenone epiclelia Eyed Pansy Junonia orithya madagascariensis RE Brilliant Blue Junonia rhadama Clouded Mother-of-Pearl Protogoniomorpha anacardii duprei Common Joker Byblia anvatara anvatara False Diadem Pseudacraea lucretia apaturoides E Kikideli Sailer Neptis kikideli Spotted Sailer Neptis saclava
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017 E Madagascar Forest Glade Nymph Aterica rabena Polka Dot Pardopsis punctatissima E Acraea ranavalona E Acraea turna Phalanta phalantha aethiopica Common Leopard Hesperiidae E Skipper sp. Fulda australis Uraniidae E Madagascar Sunset Moth Chrysiridia rhipheus Saturniidae E Comet Moth Argema mittrei
E - Endemic RE - Regional Endemic Essp - Endemic subspecies
A rather soggy but sill resplendent Madagascar Blue-Pigeon.
Madagascar Custom Tour November 2-27, 2017