- Calicalicus rufocarpalis
Identification
14 - 15cm. A small Vanga with a tit-like appearance:
Male
- Large black bib
- Bright narrow white band over forehead to behind eye
- White cheek patch
- Yellow-white eye
- Brick red upperwing-coverts, greater and primary coverts brownish-grey
- Pale brick-read tail with central pair of feathers brownish
- Whitish belly
Female
- Olive-tinged brown above
- Pale reddish rump and tail
- Brick-red lesser and median coverts
- Whitish throat
- Whitish belly
Juveniles are not yet described
Similar species
Red-tailed Vanga is smaller. The male Red-shouldered Vanga has a pale iris, a longer bill, a longer tail, a shorter wing and red upperwing-coverts. The female has a reddish shoulder (brown in Red-tailed Vanga) and a pale eye. Females are olive-tinged brown above
Distribution
Endemic to the Toliara region in southwest Madagascar.
A restricted-range species with a tiny range and probably a very small population.
Taxonomy
A monotypic species.
This species was described as recently as 1997 on the basis of two specimens collected 50 years earlier. It was first photographed in 1992 and in 1997 nine males were observed in the Toliara region. Since then more birds have been located in other places.
Habitat
Sub-arid thorn scrub.
Behaviour
Feeds on small invertebrates.
Often seen in small family groups.
No information about breeding.
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) Red-shouldered Vanga. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 8 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Red-shouldered_Vanga
