Alternative name: Chabert's Vanga
- Leptopterus chabert
Identification
14cm. A small vanga:
- Prominent broad blue eyering
- Black (with glossy blue sheen) forehead, crown, lores, ear-coverts, nape and upperparts
- Black tail (schistocercus with white outer tail feathers with black tips)
- White chin, throat, side of neck and underparts
- Dark red eye
- Pale blue bill
Sexes alike. Juveniles lack blue eyering and have a paler looking head.
Distribution
Endemic to Madagascar.
Widespread and fairly common in its range.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized:
- L. c. chabert in west, north and east Madagascar
- L. c. schistocercus in southwest Madagascar
Habitat
Found in all types of native forest, secondary regrowth and plantations. Occurs from sea-level up to 1000m, occasionally higher.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds on invertebrates (like beetles, cockroaches or worms) and small vertebrates (chameleons). Takes also small berries.
Forages usually in flocks in the canopy and frequently seen hover-gleaning.
Breeding
Breeding recorded from August to March. A co-operative breeder with one or more helpers. The nest is a cup made of plant fibres and twigs. It's placed 6 - 19m above the ground in a tree. Lays 3 -4 eggs.
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Chabert Vanga. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Chabert_Vanga
