Madagascar is considered a must-see by all serious birdwatchers. Visitors to the island are often amazed by the wide variety of rare and breathtakingly beautiful birds, including the marvelous Vangas, the beautiful Crested Coua, the remarkably colorful Roller bird, over 70 different species of singing birds and parrots, an abundance of gorgeous waterfowl, including herons and flamingos; and graceful birds of prey, such as the lightning-fast eagle and graceful falcon. The island has no vultures, in opposite to Africa, probably because of the absence of great wild mammals in Madagascar. Three of the world's most endangered birds of prey exist on Madagascar--two of them only recently rediscovered by Peregrine Fund biologists after their absence for six decades: the Madagascar Serpent-Eagle, Madagascar Red Owl and Madagascar Fish-Eagle.

Coral-billed Nuthatch

The coral-billed nuthatch (Hypositta corallirostris) lives in the eastern rain forests of the island of Madagascar. It uses its small bill to search tree trunks and branches for insects, but it climbs upwards while hunting instead of moving downwards. The coral-billed nuthatch belongs to a family of birds called the vanga shrikes, found only on Madagascar. After the original vanga arrived on the island, which has few other bird groups, it evolved into 12 species, each taking advantage of an available niche. Each species developed its own size, colour, and shape of bill—all these characteristics being adaptations to the ecological niche it filled.