1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 M A DAG A S C A R 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 portfolio 9 10 10 11 11 12 Text by Phil Hockey 12 13 13 Photographs by Pete Oxford 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 52 Opposite The coloration of the male Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher 52 53 53 Terpsiphone mutata is very variable, ranging from black and white, 54 54 55 through intermediates, to black and rufous. It is a common and widespread 55 56 species in Madagascar, also occurring in the Comores. 56 57 57 58 Above The Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha 58 59 (female shown here) is an uncommon bird confined to the eastern forests. 59 60 It is one of only four members of the family Philepittidae, 60 61 61 all of which are endemic to Madagascar. 62 62 63 63 64 64 65 65

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52 Nick Garbutt 52 53 53 54 54 55 Above A highlight of any Madagascan birding trip is a glimpse of 55 56 the brilliantly and distinctively coloured Helmet Vanga 56 57 Euryceros prevostii. It is an uncommon and elusive species, found 57 58 only in the undisturbed primary rainforests of the north-east. 58 59 59 60 Right The Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata is a noisy, 60 61 group-living species. Flocks of these birds are frequently accompanied 61 62 by one or two White-headed Vangas Leptopterus viridis, 62 63 a similarly coloured but shorter-billed species. 63 64 64 65 65

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  1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 madagascar 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 birding tour 12 13 13 14 Join Africa – Birds & Birding and Unusual Destinations 14 15 15 16 on an unforgettable 10-day birding tour to Madagascar 16 17 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29 29 30 30 31 31 32 32 33 33 34 34 35 35 36 36 37 37 38 38 39 39 40 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 44 44 45 45 46 46 47 47 48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 52 52 53 53 pete oxford pete oxford 54 Rufous Vanga Sakalava Weaver 54 55 55 56 56 57 nick garbutt 57 58 Explore top birding localities in Madagascar’s prime habitat types, each of which holds its own 58 59 complement of regional endemics, some of the world’s rarest and most unusual birds. 59 60 60 61 The tour will be led by Ian Davidson, who has escorted groups around Africa and Madagascar for several 61 62 years, and this, coupled with the endless experience of Unusual Destinations, will guarantee a most 62 63 rewarding and hassle-free tour. The sites included in the itinerary are also outstanding for other 63 64 64 wildlife: we’ll be sure to see lemurs, reptiles and frogs galore, incomparably diverse 65 Henst’s Goshawk Accipiter hentsii is a huge forest hawk. It is almost as large as, and is sometimes 65 mistaken for, the much rarer Madagascar Serpent Eagle Eutriorchis astur. flora and mind-boggling scenery.  APRIL/maY 2000 MADAGASCAR tour 65  ©

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