Madagascar is an island nation located off the southeastern coast of Africa. Because of its long separation from neighboring continents—through tectonic movement, it split from Africa about 160 million years ago, and from India around 90 million years ago—it contains many species endemic to the island. Of the 311 bird species recorded on Madagascar, 109 are found nowhere else on earth, and a handful of others are shared only with the neighbouring Comoro Islands,Morris & Hawkins (1998), p. 5. 2 have been declared extinct, 36 are globally threatened, 7 species are introduced by humans.
This list's taxonomic treatment (designation and sequence of orders, families and species) and nomenclature (common and scientific names) follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 2022 edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Madagascar.
Species status comments are taken from Morris and Hawkins's Birds of Madagascar: A Photographic Guide unless otherwise noted. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts. The IUCN Red List codes are those given by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources; they come from the IUCN's Red List website.
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+ IUCN Red List codes Code Description CR Critically endangered EN Endangered EX Extinct LC Least concern NR Not recognised as a species by IUCN NT Near threatened VU Vulnerable
Greater elephant birds Order: AepyornithiformesFamily: Aepyornithidae
Aepyornis is an extinct genus of elephant birds formerly endemic to Madagascar. The genus had two species, the smaller A. hildebrandti and the larger A. maximus, which is possibly the largest bird ever to have lived. Its closest relative is the New Zealand kiwi. They became extinct sometime around 1000 CE, probably as a result of human activity.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Hildebrandt's elephant bird Aepyornis hildebrandti Extinct EX Giant elephant bird Aepyornis maximus Extinct EX
Lesser elephant bird Order: AepyornithiformesFamily: Mullerornithidae
Mullerornis modestus is an extinct species of elephant birds, and the only member of the genus Mullerornis. It is smaller than the more well-known Aepyornis, with a still substantial body mass of approximately 80 kilograms (180 lb.) A bone possibly belonging to Mullerornis has been radiocarbon dated to about 1260 BP, suggesting that the animal was still extant at the end of the first millennium.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Lesser elephant bird Mullerornis modestus Extinct EX
Ducks, geese, and waterfowl Order: AnseriformesFamily: Anatidae
Anatidae includes the ducks and most duck-like waterfowl, such as geese and swans. These birds are adapted to an aquatic existence with webbed feet, flattened bills, and feathers that are excellent at shedding water due to an oily coating.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code White-faced whistling-duck Dendrocygna viduata Common resident LC Fulvous whistling-duck Dendrocygna bicolor Uncommon resident LC White-backed duck Thalassornis leuconotus Rare resident LC Knob-billed duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Locally common resident LC African pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus Common resident LC Blue-billed teal Spatula hottentota Locally common resident LC Meller's duck* Anas melleri Uncommon resident EN Mallard% Anas platyrhynchos Introduced species LC Red-billed duck Anas erythrorhyncha Common resident LC Bernier's teal* Anas bernieri Rare resident EN Madagascar pochard* Aythya innotata Recently rediscovered CR
Guineafowl Order: GalliformesFamily: Numididae
The guineafowl are a family of birds native to Africa. They typically eat insects and seeds, are ground-nesting, and resemble partridges, except with featherless heads.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Helmeted guineafowl% Numida meleagris Common resident LC
Pheasants, grouse, and allies Order: GalliformesFamily: Phasianidae
Phasianidae consists of the pheasants and their allies. These are terrestrial species, variable in size but generally plump, with broad, relatively short wings. Many species are gamebirds or have been domesticated as a food source for humans.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Madagascar partridge* Margaroperdix madagarensis Uncommon resident LC Common quail Coturnix coturnix Uncommon resident LC Harlequin quail Coturnix delegorguei Uncommon visitor LC
Flamingos Order: PhoenicopteriformesFamily: Phoenicopteridae
Flamingos are gregarious wading birds, usually tall, found in both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Flamingos filter-feed on shellfish and algae. Their oddly shaped beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they consume and, uniquely, are used upside-down.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Regular, rare breeder LC Lesser flamingo Phoenicopterus minor Erratic migrant NT
Grebes Order: PodicipediformesFamily: Podicipedidae
Grebes are small to medium-large freshwater diving birds. They have lobed toes and are excellent swimmers and divers. However, they have their feet placed far back on the body, making them quite ungainly on land.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Alaotra grebe* Tachybaptus rufolavatus Extinct EX Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Locally common resident LC Madagascar grebe* Tachybaptus pelzelnii Uncommon resident EN
Pigeons and doves Order: ColumbiformesFamily: Columbidae
Pigeons and doves are stout-bodied birds with short necks and short slender bills with a fleshy cere.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Rock pigeon% Columba livia LC Malagasy turtle-dove Nesoenas picturatus LC Namaqua dove Oena capensis LC Zebra dove% Geopelia striata LC Madagascar green-pigeon Treron australis LC Madagascar blue-pigeon* Alectroenas madagascariensis LC
Mesites Order: MesitornithiformesFamily: Mesitornithidae
The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes. They are smallish flightless or near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. They are the only family with more than two species in which every species is threatened (all three are listed as vulnerable).
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code White-breasted mesite* Mesitornis variegata Locally common resident VU Brown mesite* Mesitornis unicolor Uncommon resident VU Subdesert mesite* Monias benschi Uncommon resident VU
Sandgrouse Order: PterocliformesFamily: Pteroclidae
Sandgrouse have small, pigeon like heads and necks, but sturdy compact bodies. They have long pointed wings and sometimes tails and a fast direct flight. Flocks fly to watering holes at dawn and dusk. Their legs are feathered down to the toes.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN code Madagascar sandgrouse* Pterocles personatus LC
Cuckoos Order: CuculiformesFamily: Cuculidae
The family Cuculidae includes cuckoos, roadrunners and anis. These birds are of variable size with slender bodies, long tails and strong legs.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Crested coua* Coua cristata LC Verreaux's coua* Coua verreauxi LC Blue coua* Coua caerulea LC Red-capped coua* Coua ruficeps LC Red-fronted coua* Coua reynaudii LC Coquerel's coua* Coua coquereli LC Running coua* Coua cursor LC Giant coua* Coua gigas LC Snail-eating coua* Coua delalandei Extinct EX Red-breasted coua* Coua serriana LC Malagasy coucal Centropus toulou LC Thick-billed cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti LC Madagascar cuckoo Cuculus rochii LC
Nightjars and allies Order: CaprimulgiformesFamily: Caprimulgidae
Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal birds that usually nest on the ground. They have long wings, short legs and very short bills. Most have small feet, of little use for walking, and long pointed wings. Their soft plumage is camouflaged to resemble bark or leaves.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Collared nightjar* Gactornis enarratus LC Madagascar nightjar Caprimulgus madagascariensis LC
Swifts Order: ApodiformesFamily: Apodidae
Swifts are small birds which spend the majority of their lives flying. These birds have very short legs and never settle voluntarily on the ground, perching instead only on vertical surfaces. Many swifts have long swept-back wings which resemble a crescent or boomerang.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Madagascar spinetail Zoonavena grandidieri Widespread resident LC Alpine swift Apus melba Widespread resident LC African swift Apus barbatus LC Malagasy swift Apus balstoni Widespread resident LC Little swift Apus affinis Recent colonist LC Malagasy palm-swift Cypsiurus gracilis Widespread resident LC
Flufftails Order: GruiformesFamily: Sarothruridae
The flufftails are a small family of ground-dwelling birds found only in Madagascar and sub-Saharan Africa.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Madagascar wood-rail* Mentocrex kioloides LC Tsingy wood-rail* Mentocrex beankaensis Range-restricted resident NT Madagascar flufftail* Sarothrura insularis LC Slender-billed flufftail* Sarothrura watersi EN
Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots and gallinules. Typically they inhabit dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Madagascar rail* Rallus madagascariensis VU White-throated rail Dryolimnas cuvieri LC Corn crake Crex crex Rare/accidental LC Spotted crake Porzana porzana Rare/accidental LC Eurasian moorhen Gallinula chloropus LC Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata LC Allen's gallinule Porphyrio alleni LC African swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis NR Little crake Zapornia parva Rare/accidental LC Baillon's crake Zapornia pusilla LC Sakalava rail* Zapornia olivieri EN
Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae
Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds, which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Black-winged stilt Himantopus himantopus Fairly common resident LC Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Very rare vagrant LC
Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae
The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola LC Pacific golden-plover Pluvialis fulva Rare/accidental LC Lesser sand-plover Charadrius mongolus Rare/accidental LC Greater sand-plover Charadrius leschenaultii LC Kittlitz's plover Charadrius pecuarius LC Common ringed plover Charadrius hiaticula LC Madagascar plover* Charadrius thoracicus VU Little ringed plover Charadrius dubius Rare/accidental LC Three-banded plover Charadrius tricollaris LC White-fronted plover Charadrius marginatus LC Oriental plover Charadrius veredus LC
Painted-snipes Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Rostratulidae
Painted-snipes are short-legged, long-billed birds similar in shape to the true snipes, but more brightly coloured.
Common name Scientific name Status IUCN cod Greater painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis LC
Jacanas Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Jacanidae