Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk
Aviceda madagascariensis
Rather nondescript, brown mid-sized raptor. Endemic to Madagascar, where it is found in and around all forest types. Sometimes soars. Extremely similar to Madagascar Buzzard. In flight, Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk is distinguished by the heavy barring across the whole underwing and by the fewer thicker dark bars on the tail. When perched, look for the small, round head with a bulging eye. Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk also usually shows a heavily barred chest and white belly, whereas Madagascar Buzzard shows the opposite.
Identification
The adult Madagascar cuckoo-hawk has dark brown upperparts which are paler on the head and an off white rump. The underparts are white with the breast and upper breast and sides of the lower breast are heavily streaked with brown, these streaks becoming finer on the flanks, The tail has two narrow, pale bars and a pale tip. The underwing coverts are heavily barred with brown while the flight feathers have broad dark bands on their underside. At rest there is a short crest which projects from the rear crown. The juvenile is darker than the adult with white tips to the feathers obvious against the dark upperparts. Males and females are similar in size with a length of 300 mm (12 in) and a wingspan of 850 mm (33 in).
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Aviceda madagascariensis
- Authority
- (Smith, A, 1834)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Aviceda
Range and habitat
The bird is endemic to Madagascar where it is reasonably common in the west, the north, and the east of the island. However, it is rather uncommon in the south and on the Central Plateau. In Madagascar this species is found in most forest types, including commercial plantations of coconut and other palms. It has been recorded from sea level to 1,600 m (5,200 ft) in altitude. Most observation are made at the edges of forests or in clearings, it can also be seen in towns. It avoids the densest forests and the most arid or deforested areas in the south and the central plateau.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Flame-crowned Manakin
Heterocercus linteatus
Fairly large manakin. Males are distinctive, with a black head and an orange-red center of the crown that is often concealed; upperparts olive and underparts rusty, contrasting with a pure white throat. Females have an olive head and a gray throat. Occurs in the understory of seasonally-flooded forest. The song is a loud whistle: “weeeooo”.
Painted Tiger-Parrot
Psittacella picta
A fairly small parrot of high elevation cloud forest. Green with mustard-brown crown, barred back and rump, and red in the base of the tail. Males have a yellow collar and females a barred chest. Visually distinctive races are sometimes treated as separate species. Western birds have a bluish throat, whereas eastern males have a brown cheek and blue chest, and females have a blue cheek. Similar to Brehm’s but Painted is smaller, with red rump in the east and green cheek in the west. Call, a nasal “coo-wee!” which can be given upslurred or downslurred.
Brown Trembler
Cinclocerthia ruficauda
A bright-eyed, hefty billed bird of forests and scrublands. Tends to hold its tail cocked up and wings drooped, especially when feeding. Typically appears almost entirely warm brown; dark above and paler below with some gray on head. Gray Trembler lacks the brown hues of Brown Trembler and has some degree of white below. White-breasted Thrasher has largely bright white underparts and a dark red eye (not yellow as in Brown Trembler). Song is a slow jumble of rich whistles and high-pitched sibilant notes. Calls include scattered whistles and harsh scolding notes.
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