Family: Vangidae
Description
Vangas, Helmetshrikes, and Allies.
Several genera from Madagascar, mainland Africa and Asia.
Vangas are a highly diverse family. Size, colour and bill size and shape are so different that it is hard to believe that this species are related at all. Like the Darwin's Finches from Galapagos or the Hawaiian Honeycreepers on Hawaii the Vangas have evolved from a common ancestor into various different forms according to their diet and habits on an isolated island. However, the expanded family now includes also species from mainland Africa and Asia.
Taxonomy
Vangidae is a family in the Order Passeriformes.
Formerly this family was only used for species from Madagascar. A recent study however showed that the Vangas are embedded in a larger group. Therefore all species from the former family Prionopidae and several more genera (Hemipus, Megabyas, Bias, Newtonia) and species (Crossley's Vanga, Ward's Flycatcher) are now included in this family.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2015. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2015, with updates to August 2015. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- 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. (2025) Vangidae. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 7 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Vangidae
Subcategories
This category has the following 21 subcategories, out of 21 total.
