Vanga
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Order: Passeriformes
Family: Vangidae
Genera: Artamella Calicalicus Cyanolanius Euryceros Falculea Hypositta Leptopterus Mystacornis Newtonia Oriolia Pseudobias Schetba Tylas Vanga Xenopirostris

[Photo] Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa. Source: Bird stamps from Malagasy, 1986. URL: www.birdtheme.org/country/malagasy.html

The vangas are a group of little-known small to medium sized passerine birds restricted to Madagascar. Their relationship with other passerine groups is uncertain, but they seem most closely related to several other enigmatic African groups, such as helmetshrikes (Fuchs et al., 2004). Several of these species (including Van Dam's, Rufous and Sickle-billed) can be found in the Madagascar dry deciduous forests.

They are usually shrike-like, arboreal forest birds, feeding on reptiles, frogs and insects (but see below). Vangas' stick nests are built in trees. They do not migrate.

Species list
Traditionally believed to be a small family of generally shrike-like birds, recent research has revealed that several taxa most similar in appearance and habits (and formerly considered to be) flycatchers or Old World babblers are in fact vangas (Cibois et al. 1999, 2001; Yamagishi et al., 2001; Schulenberg, 2003).

Family: Vangidae

Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus madagascariensis
Red-shouldered Vanga Calicalicus rufocarpalis
Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa
Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris
Lafresnaye's Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris
Van Dam's Vanga Xenopirostris damii
Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni
Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata
White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis
Chabert Vanga Leptopterus chabert
Blue Vanga Cyanolanius madagascarinus
Bernier's Vanga Oriolia bernieri
Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii
Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi
Coral-billed Nuthatch-vanga Hypositta corallirostris
Short-toed Nuthatch-vanga Hypositta perdita
Dark Newtonia, Newtonia amphichroa
Common Newtonia, Newtonia brunneicauda
Archbold's Newtonia, Newtonia archboldi
Red-tailed Newtonia, Newtonia fanovanae
Crossley's Babbler-vanga, Mystacornis crossleyi
Ward's Flycatcher-vanga, Pseudobias wardi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanga

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