The vangas are a group of little-known small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to Madagascar. Their relationship with other passerine groups is uncertain, but they seem most closely related to several other enigmatic African groups, such as helmetshrikes (Fuchs et al., 2004). Several of these species (including Van Dam's, Rufous and Sickle-billed) can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

They are usually shrike-like, arboreal forest birds, feeding on reptiles, frogs and insects (but see below). Vangas' stick nests are built in trees They do not migrate.

Species list

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Traditionally believed to be a small family of generally shrike-like birds, recent research has revealed that several taxa most similar in appearance and habits (and formerly considered to be) flycatchers or babblers are in fact vangas (Cibois et al. 1999, 2001; Yamagishi et al., 2001; Schulenberg, 2003).

Family: Vangidae

• Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus madagascariensis
• Red-shouldered Vanga Calicalicus rufocarpalis

• Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa

• Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris

• Lafresnaye's Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris
• Van Dam's Vanga Xenopirostris damii
• Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni

• Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata

• White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis

• Chabert Vanga Leptopterus chabert

• Blue Vanga Cyanolanius madagascarinus

• Bernier's Vanga Oriolia bernieri

• Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii

• Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi

• Coral-billed Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris
• Short-toed Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta perdita

• Dark Newtonia, Newtonia amphichroa
• Common Newtonia, Newtonia brunneicauda
• Archbold's Newtonia, Newtonia archboldi
• Red-tailed Newtonia, Newtonia fanovanae

• Crossley's Babbler Vanga, Mystacornis crossleyi

• Ward's Flycatcher Vanga, Pseudobias wardi

References

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• Cibois, A.; Pasquet, E. & Schulenberg, T.S. (1999): Molecular systematics of the Malagasy babblers (Timaliidae) and Warblers (Sylviidae), based on cytochrome b and 16S rRNA sequences. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 13(3): 581-595. HTML abstract

• Cibois, A.; Slikas, B.; Schulenberg, T.S. & Pasquet, E. (2001): An endemic radiation of Malagasy songbirds is revealed by mitochondrial DNA sequence data. Evolution 55(6): 1198-1206. PDF fulltext

• Yamagishi, S.; Honda, M.; Eguchi, K. & Thorstrom, R. (2001): Extreme endemic radiation of the Malagasy Vangas (Aves: Passeriformes). J. Mol. Evol. 53(1): 39-46. HTML abstract

• Schulenberg, T.S. (2003): The Radiations of Passerine Birds of Madagascar. In: Goodman, S.M. & Benstead, J.P. (eds.): The Natural History of Madagascar, p.1130-1134.

• Fuchs, J.; Bowie, R.C.K.; Fjeldsa, J. & Pasquet, E. (2004): Phylogenetic relationships of the African bush-shrikes and helmet-shrikes (Passeriformes: Malaconotidae). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 33(2): 428-439. HTML abstract

Vangawürger | Vanga's

External links

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• Vanga videos on the Internet Bird Collection

Higher-level bird taxa restricted to the Malagasy region | Vangidae