Crossley's Vanga
Mystacornis crossleyi
The Crossley's Vanga (Mystacornis crossleyi) is a rare vangas, helmetshrikes, and alli found only in Madagascar, weighing about 25 g. Crossley's vanga, also known as Crossley's babbler-vanga, Crossley's babbler, Madagascar groundhunter, or Madagascar groundjumper, is a bird species in the family Vangidae.
About the Crossley's Vanga
Crossley's vanga, also known as Crossley's babbler-vanga, Crossley's babbler, Madagascar groundhunter, or Madagascar groundjumper, is a bird species in the family Vangidae. It is named after the specimen collector Alfred Crossley.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Crossley's vanga is a small babbler-like bird, 15 cm long and weighing around 25 g. Its most distinctive feature is the olive-grey bill, which is disproportionately long and slightly hooked at the end. The plumage of the male is olive green on the crown, back, wings, tail and flanks, a grey belly, black throat and face, with a white submoustachial stripe and grey stripe above the eye. The legs are grey and the iris black. The female is similar but with a white throat and belly.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Crossley's Vanga?
- Crossley's vanga is a small babbler-like bird, 15 cm long and weighing around 25 g. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Crossley's Vanga?
- The Crossley's Vanga is a small sized bird weighing about 25 g.
- Where can you see a Crossley's Vanga?
- The Crossley's Vanga is endemic to Madagascar, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Crossley's Vanga?
- The Crossley's Vanga is most easily confused with the Lafresnaye's Vanga, the Dark Newtonia and the Archbold's Newtonia.
- Is the Crossley's Vanga endangered?
- The Crossley's Vanga is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Crossley's Vanga for real
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