This article is one of a series providing information about endemism among birds in the world's various zoogeographic zones. For an overview of this subject see Endemism in birds.
This region is notable not just for the high number of endemic species, but for endemism in higher-level taxonomic groupings too.
Two orders are endemic to Madagascar or the wider region:
Mesites are placed within the Mesitornithiformes, an order containing three species in two genera.The cuckoo-roller is placed in the monotypic order Leptosomiformes. It is endemic to the wider region, as its single species is present on both Madagascar and Comores.The following three families are endemic to Madagascar:
Ground-rollers, a family within the Coraciiformes, containing five species in three genera.Asities, a passerine family within the Old World suboscines, containing four species in two generaMalagasy Warblers, a passerine family within the Old World oscines, containing eleven species in eight genera.One other family is endemic to the wider region:
The vangas, an oscine passerine family, containing sixteen species in eleven genera are endemic to the region. All but one species are confined to Madagascar, the sole exception being the Comoro blue vanga, restricted to Comores.The nine species of coua (genus Coua, a subfamily of the cuckoos) are all Madagascan endemics.Two extinct species, the dodo and Rodrigues solitaire are placed in the Raphinae (a subfamily of the doves and pigeons) and were endemic to Mauritius.In addition to genera in the families above, the following genera are endemic to the region (M indicating a genus endemic to Madagascar):
the jeries Neomixis (three species) and Hartertula (one species) MIn addition in the following genera, high proportions of the member species are endemic to Madagascar:
the rock-thrushes, Monticola, in which three of the 13 species are endemic to Madagascar (these three are sometimes separated into their own genus, Pseudocossyphus).BirdLife International has defined a number of Endemic Bird Areas and Secondary Areas in Madagascar and the western Indian Ocean islands.
The following is a list of species endemic to Madagascar.
Note that:
Madagascar partridge is endemic as a native species to Madagascar, but has been introduced on the MascarenesMadagascar buttonquail is endemic as a native species to Madagascar, but has been introduced on the MascarenesMadagascar turtle dove is endemic as a native species to Madagascar, but is thought to be an introduced species on the other islands in the regionGrey-headed lovebird is endemic as a native species to Madagascar, but has been introduced to the Comoro IslandsMadagascar fody is endemic as a native species to Madagascar, but has been introduced to many of the other islands in the regionSpecies endemic to other islands or island groups in the region
The following is a list of species endemic to other islands.
Mauritius kestrelPink pigeonMauritius parakeetMascarene swiftletRéunion bulbulMauritius bulbulRéunion stonechatMascarene paradise flycatcherRodrigues warblerMauritius olive white-eyeRéunion olive white-eyeMauritius grey white-eyeRéunion grey white-eyeMauritius cuckoo-shrikeRéunion cuckoo-shrikeMauritius fodyRodrigues fodyComoro olive pigeonComoro green pigeonKarthala scops-owlAnjouan scops-owlAnjouan cuckoo-rollerComoro bulbulComoro thrushHumblot's flycatcherComoro brush-warblerBenson's brush-warblerKirk's white-eyeKarthala white-eyeMayotte white-eyeComoro green sunbirdHumblot's sunbirdAnjouan sunbirdMayotte sunbirdComoro blue vangaComoro cuckoo-shrikeMayotte drongoGrande Comore drongoComoro fodySeychelles kestrelSeychelles blue pigeonSeychelles black parrotSeychelles scops-owlSeychelles swiftletSeychelles magpie-robinSeychelles black paradise flycatcherSeychelles warblerSeychelles white-eyeSeychelles sunbirdSeychelles fodySpecies endemic to the Aldabra islands
Aldabra railAldabra brush-warblerAbbott's sunbirdAldabra drongoAldabra fodyThere are native Madagascar turtle doves in the Aldabra group (separate races from those found on Madagascar); they may represent a separate species.
The following is a list of species which are not endemic to a specific island (or island group) but are endemic to the region as a whole.
Madagascar sacred ibis (Aldabra, western coast of Madagascar)Réunion harrier (Madagascar, Comoros, Mascarenes)Frances's sparrowhawk (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar kestrel (Madagascar, Aldabra)Comoro blue pigeon (Comoros, Aldabra)Greater vasa parrot (Madagascar, Comoros)Lesser vasa parrot (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar coucal (Madagascar, Aldabra)Madagascar scops owl (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar nightjar (Madagascar, Aldabra)Madagascar black swift (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar spine-tailed swift (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar kingfisher (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar bee-eater (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar cuckoo-roller (Madagascar, Comoros)Mascarene martin (Madagascar, Mascarenes)Madagascar bulbul (Madagascar, Comoros, Aldabra)Madagascar paradise flycatcher (Madagascar, Comoros)Madagascar cisticola (Madagascar, Aldabra group)Madagascar brush-warbler (Madagascar, Mohéli, Anjouan)Madagascar white-eye (Madagascar, various other islands)Madagascar green sunbird (Madagascar, Mohéli)Souimanga sunbird (Aldabra, Madagascar)Crested drongo (Madagascar, Anjouan)The following is a list of species endemic to the region as breeding species:
Madagascar squacco heron (breeding endemic on Madagascar & Aldabra, migrates to East Africa)Madagascar lesser cuckoo (endemic to Madagascar in the breeding season, winters in East Africa).Two Western Palearctic falcons winter entirely (Eleonora's falcon) or mainly (sooty falcon) on Madagascar.
The following restricted-range species are also found in the region:
The following seabirds are restricted to the region as breeders:
