Cabanis's Greenbul

Tiny, skulking rail-like bird that is unlikely to be seen unless you’re expressly looking for it. The male is boldly red and black with white stripes, while the female is brownish and much plainer. Found on the ground in forest, scrub, heath, and wetlands in eastern, central, and northern Madagascar. Extremely shy and elusive, and most often detected by voice: a loud and explosive couple of “ki-dit” calls followed by a very long series of shorter “kit” notes. Much shorter-billed than the very rare Slender-billed Flufftail. All other rails are larger and have different coloration.

A large, robust, ungainly cuckoo with rufous wings and a long, broad tail. Shows a solid dark cap and back of the head, and white underparts. Unlike other coucals, shows an obviously barred rump and upper tail coverts. It often moves clumsily, preferring to clamber about in rank vegetation or walk on the ground foraging for insects or small vertebrates. Its flight is labored and heavy. This species uses a wide variety of habitats with a thick understory, including savanna, woodland, forest edge, and wetlands. The song is a deep descending bubbling series, “bu-bu-bu bu bu bu bu”, that falls and then rises in pitch.

A hulking gray ibis the size of a large goose and with a distinctively long-bodied appearance, this increasingly rare scimitar-billed waterbird is unmistakable in its limited range. Size alone separates this species from other ibises that share its range; also note wrinkly bald head, dark back, and beautifully scalloped wings. Forages singly, in pairs, or in small flocks. Inhabits lowland plains, moving in response to water availability, occasionally gathering at waterholes during especially dry periods. Forages in marshy or flooded openings in wooded areas, and roosts and nests in nearby trees. Gives loud rolling bugles at dawn and dusk.