Common Newtonia
Newtonia brunneicauda
Energetic and pugnacious little plain-brown vanga. The eye is white, and the center of the chest usually orange. Madagascar endemic that is found in all types of forest. Constantly on the move through the mid-story, usually in pairs. Often joins flocks with vangas and other mid-sized birds. Song is an explosive, rollicking series of two-parted notes: “chi-pu, chi-pu, chi-pu….” Pale eye and paler overall coloration separate it from Dark Newtonia. Pale eye also separates Common Newtonia from the rare Red-tailed Newtonia. Similar to Archbold’s Newtonia, but without rufous around the eye.
Identification
It is a small, short-winged, warbler like bird with relatively long legs. It is 12 cm in length and weighs 7–14.5 g, with a wing length of 54.5 mm. Sexes look similar to each other. It has grayish brown upperparts and is pale warm buff in colour under. The nominate species has a cold grayish brown head and upperparts, with the sides of head and neck being a lighter grayish-brown. Its tail is also grayish brown, with off-white undertail coverts. They also have very pale yellow irises with a slender, short, and black bill. The lining of the mouth is yellow. Its tarsi are pale pinkish to grayish brown.<p>Juveniles look similar to adults, but have browner upperparts, with rufous-brown tips on greater wing coverts and a ginger tinge on their tertials. Irises are darker than in adults.
Taxonomy
There are two subspecies of the common newtonia:<p>Newtonia brunneicauda brunneicauda, Newton 1863- It is found in forested regions throughout Madagascar. Newtonia brunneicauda inornata is considered to be a synonym.<p>Newtonia brunneicauda monticola, Salomonsen 1934- It is found in the Ankaratra mountains of central Madagascar.
- Scientific name
- Newtonia brunneicauda
- Authority
- (Newton, A, 1863)
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Vangidae
- Genus
- Newtonia
Range and habitat
The species is found throughout Madagascar, from sea level up until an elevation of 2,300 m. It is found through a variety of forests and wooded habitats, but is mostly restricted to native forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
It is insectivorous.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Collared Petrel
Pterodroma brevipes
A small gray-and-white petrel with a dark hood, a bold dark “M” pattern across the upperwings, and a distinctive bold black underwing pattern. Very variable. A pale morph resembles Gould’s Petrel, while a distinctive sooty-brown dark morph shows exceptionally bold underwing markings. Pale morph separated from Gould’s Petrel by its much bolder underwing pattern and its hood, which often meets below the neck, creating a full collar. Silent at sea.
White-necked Babbler
Stachyris leucotis
Brown babbler with a black throat and scale-like white feathers on the brow and neck. Favors slopes of lowland and foothill forests. Forages just above or on the ground; frequently in mixed flocks with other similarly-sized babblers. Song is a short series of mellow and beautiful melodic whistles.
Hook-billed Kingfisher
Melidora macrorrhina
A fairly large, common kingfisher of wooded areas in the lowlands and foothills, even plantations. Very difficult to see. Thick, bicolored bill with a distinct hook, dark wing with large brown spots, black face with a pale stripe below the eye and a finely speckled crown. Much more often heard than seen. Calls pre-dawn and after dusk. Voice, an initial low note, followed by higher notes speeded up, “puuu! pipipi”. Sometimes sounding like dropping a ping pong ball on a table.
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