Lafresnaye's Vanga

Schmalschnabelvanga ♂

The Schmalschnabelvanga ( Xenopirostris xenopirostris ) is a passerine bird in the family of Vangawürger ( Vangidae ). This monotypic species lives in Madagascar, where it is endemic. The stock is classified by the IUCN as endangered not (Least Concern ).

Features

The Schmalschnabelvanga reaches a body length of about 24 centimeters. The cap, the ear-coverts and chin of the male are glossy black. The upper side is separated by a white band fillet. The mantle (area between the neck and shoulder feathers), the shoulders, the upper wing-coverts and tail are ash-gray with brown shades, with the flight feathers are darker and browner. The tail is consistently grayish brown. The underside is unlike the chin colored dirty white. The iris is dark brown. The distinctive blue-white beak has a dark spots sometimes at the top and acts narrow and globig. When it is closed there is a slight gap between the upper and lower beak. The legs are dark gray blue. The female differs from the male in that reins and anterior apex white gray, white cheeks and the top are ashen brown. The young birds resemble females, but have a browner top.

Behavior

You see them mostly in pairs and often they mix even under mixed Vanga groups. Their food they seek in the nooks and crannies of dead or broken wood, especially under dead tree bark and branches. To their prey includes large insects and small vertebrates. Their cup-shaped nests they usually build in tree forks.

Distribution and habitat

They occur exclusively in the southern semi-desert climate of Madagascar. There they are north of the Mangoky River to the east of the city Tolagnaro found at altitudes between sea level and 100 meters. They prefer thorny primary forest and coastal near milkweed bushes, as well as their adjacent destroyed by human environments.

Etymology and History of Research

Lafresnaye described the bird for the first time under the name of Vanga xenopirostris. As part of the article appeared a striking illustration of the beak. Only later was V. xenopirostris the same genus Xenopirostris (1850 Bonaparte ) slammed.

The word " Xenopirostris " is from the Greek word " xenos " for " weird, strange ," and the Latin word " rostris " for " - schnäbelig " together.