- Xenopirostris xenopirostris
Identification
24cm. A medium-sized Vanga.
- Black head with contrasting white throat and broad white collar, broken at rear
- Medium grey tinged brown upperparts
- White underparts
- Stout, laterally compressed, grey to bluish-grey bill
- Dark brown eye
Females are similar but the black is restricted to the top of the head.
Juveniles are similar to females but have brown markings on scapulars and upperparts.
Similar species
Similar to Van Dam's Vanga but with paler upperparts. Ranges don't overlap.
Distribution
Endemic to southwest and south Madagascar.
A restricted-range species, not common in its small range.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
Habitat
Sub-arid thorn scrub. Prefers areas with lots of dead wood. Occurs from sea-level up to 100m.
Behaviour
Feeds on invertebrates (beetles, cockroaches, other insects and worms) and small vertebrates (like chameleons).
Often seen close to the ground, singly, in pairs or small groups. Often with other vangas in mixed-species flocks.
Breeding recorded from November to December. The nest is a cup made of plant matter and spider webs. It's placed 5m above the ground in a tree fork. Lays 2 eggs.
Probably a sedentary species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- 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) Lafresnaye's Vanga. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 1 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Lafresnaye%27s_Vanga
