Friday 17 May
Red-shouldered vanga (Calicalicus rufocarpalis)
VULNERABLERed-shouldered vanga fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Red-shouldered vanga description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Vangidae |
| Genus | Calicalicus (1) |
This small bird was first described to science as recently as 1997 (1). It is named for the brick-red feathers on the ‘shoulders’, which contrast with the grey back and dark grey wings. The underparts have whitish plumage, with a wash of chestnut over the breast and flanks (2). A black patch sits like a bib at the top of the breast and extends up over the sides of the neck, contrasting with the white face. Female red-shouldered vangas differ slightly from this description, having olive-grey-brown upperparts, a whitish throat, and buff to whitish underparts. The eyes are pale lemon yellow, the bill is black and the legs and feet are pinkish-grey (2). Vangas generally have an elaborate and melodic vocal repertoire (3); this species song is a loud ‘tyu-tee’ (4).
- Size
- Length: 14 – 15 cm (2)
More »
Top
Related species
Red-shouldered vanga biology
Often found in small groups, the red-shouldered vanga searches for food in low, dense bushes, two to three metres off the ground, where it plucks its small insect prey from leaves and branches (2) (4). Vangas generally build deep, bowl-shaped nests (3).
TopRed-shouldered vanga range
The red-shouldered vanga is endemic to Madagascar where, to date, it has been recorded from several locations in the south-west of the island (4).
More »
Top
Species with a similar range
Red-shouldered vanga habitat
This species is found in dense scrub dominated by Euphorbia species (a diverse group of succulent plants) (4), at altitudes around 100 metres (2).
More »
Top
Species found in a similar habitat
Red-shouldered vanga status
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Red-shouldered vanga threats
While in some areas the habitat of the red-shouldered vanga is being degraded by goat grazing, shrub clearance for charcoal, and timber extraction, the majority of the habitat remains intact as the soil is unsuitable for agriculture. However, as the red-shouldered vanga is known only from a small area, its status could deteriorate rapidly should this situation change (4).
TopRed-shouldered vanga conservation
The red-shouldered vanga occurs within one protected area: the Tsimanampetsotsa Strict Reserve. Another region within its range has been identified as a site of special biodiversity interest and warrants formal protection (4). This protection, along with further research into the species, has been recommended by BirdLife International to ensure this species’ conservation status does not worsen (4).
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
Find out more
For further information on the red-shouldered vanga see:
-
BirdLife International:
www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=9808&m=0
Authentication
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
arkive@wildscreen.org.uk
Glossary
- Endemic
- A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
References
-
IUCN Red List (September, 2007)
http://www.iucnredlist.org - Morris, P. and Hawkins, F. (1998) Birds of Madagascar. A Photographic Guide. Pica Press, East Sussex.
- Langrand, O. (1990) Guide to the Birds of Madagascar. Yale University Press, New Haven and London.
-
BirdLife International (May, 2008)
http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=9808&m=0
More »Related species
Sign up to our newsletter
Get the latest wild news direct to your inbox.
Get involved
ARKive relies on its media donors to donate photos and videos. Can you help? There are plenty of other ways you can get involved too!
Wednesday 15 May
Guest Blog: Join Our SOS! Campaign to Help Polar Bears with Polar Bears International
Monday 13 May
X
Close
Close
Link to this photo
Embed this ARKive thumbnail link by copying and pasting the code below.
Terms of Use - The displayed thumbnail may be used as a link from your website to ARKive's online content for private, scientific, conservation or educational purposes only. It may NOT be used within Apps.
Read more about
X
Close
Close
MyARKive
MyARKive offers the scrapbook feature to signed-up members, allowing you to organize your favourite ARKive images and videos and share them with friends.
X
Close
Close
Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials
Copyright in this website and materials contained on this website (Material) belongs to Wildscreen or its licensors.
Visitors to this website (End Users) are entitled to:
- view the contents of, and Material on, the website;
- download and retain copies of the Material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use;
- teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the Material in their educational material (including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the Material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the End User.
End Users shall not copy or otherwise extract, alter or manipulate Material other than as permitted in these Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials.
Additional use of flagged material
Green flagged material 
Certain Material on this website (Licence 4 Material) displays a green flag next to the Material and is available for not-for-profit conservation or educational use. This material may be used by End Users, who are individuals or organisations that are in our opinion not-for-profit, for their not-for-profit conservation or not-for-profit educational purposes. Low resolution, watermarked images may be copied from this website by such End Users for such purposes. If you require high resolution or non-watermarked versions of the Material, please contact Wildscreen with details of your proposed use.
Creative commons material
Certain Material on this website has been licensed to Wildscreen under a Creative Commons Licence. These images are clearly marked with the Creative Commons buttons and may be used by End Users only in the way allowed by the specific Creative Commons Licence under which they have been submitted. Please see http://creativecommons.org for details.
Any other use
Please contact the copyright owners directly (copyright and contact details are shown for each media item) to negotiate terms and conditions for any use of Material other than those expressly permitted above. Please note that many of the contributors to ARKive are commercial operators and may request a fee for such use.
Save as permitted above, no person or organisation is permitted to incorporate any copyright material from this website into any other work or publication in any format (this includes but is not limited to: websites, Apps, CDs, DVDs, intranets, extranets, signage, digital communications or on printed materials for external or other distribution). Use of the Material for promotional, administrative or for-profit purposes is not permitted.