The helmet vanga (Euryceros prevostii) is a distinctive-looking bird of the vanga family, Vangidae, and is classified in its own genus, Euryceros. It is mainly blue-black, with rufous wings and a huge arched blue bill. It is restricted to lowland and lower montane rainforests of northeastern Madagascar. Its diet is composed of invertebrates, predominantly insects. The species is threatened by habitat loss.
The helmet vanga is the only member of the genus Euryceros. Like most vangas it was originally placed in the shrike family, Laniidae. When the ornithologist Austin L. Rand moved the majority of the vangas into a separate family in 1936, he placed the helmet vanga in its own monotypic family, Eurycerotidae. It was moved to the vanga family by J. Dorst in 1960. The closest relative within the family is believed to be the rufous vanga, which is thought to have split from the helmet vanga 800,000 years ago.[2] The specific name prevostii commemorates the French artist Florent Prévost.
Descriptionedit
Global distribution
The helmet vanga is a large vanga, the second-largest species of vanga after the sickle-billed vanga. In length it measures 28 to 31 cm (11–12 in), and it weighs 84 to 114 g (3.0–4.0 oz). The most distinctive feature is the massive hooked bill, which is 51 mm (2.0 in) long and 30 mm (1.2 in) deep.[2] The plumage of the head, neck, throat, breast and belly is a solid blue-black, as are the primary coverts and remiges of the wing. The mantle, the back, and the rest of the wings are rufous. The tail, which is long and broad, is black below and rufous above. The bill is bright blue with a black tip. Both sexes are alike.[2]
Adults mainly eat large insects, but food items brought to young in the nest may be more varied, including snails, lizards, spiders and crabs.
Breedingedit
Helmet vangas are monogamous and seasonal breeders. The breeding season runs from October to January on the Masoala Peninsula. Both sexes work on the construction of the nest, which is a cup shape 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter constructed from woven plant fibres, mosses and twigs, and is placed in a fork in a tree 2 to 4 m (6.6–13.1 ft) off the ground. There is one record of courtship feeding by a male before copulation. The clutch size is two or three pinkish white eggs.[3]
Threats and conservationedit
The helmet vanga is considered to be threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. The species is restricted to undisturbed humid rainforest, and this habitat is increasingly being cleared for agriculture and forestry. Their population, between 6000-15000 mature individuals, is becoming increasingly fragmented.[1] Ecological modelling suggests that much of their remaining habitat will be lost in 50 years due to climate change. Because of these issues the species has been listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.[1]
Galleryedit
Skeleton of helmet vanga
Helmet vanga on nest, showing the massive bill
Feeding three chicks in the nest
Referencesedit
^ abcBirdLife International (2018). "Euryceros prevostii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22708058A131736320. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22708058A131736320.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^ abcRocamora, Gérard; Yeatman-Berthelot, Dosithée (2009). "Family Vangidae (Vangas)". In del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Christie, David (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 142–170. ISBN978-84-96553-50-7.
^La Marca, Giuseppe; Russell Thorstrom (2000). "Breeding biology, diet and vocalization of the Helmet Vanga, Euryceros prevostii, on the Masoala Peninsula, Madagascar". Ostrich. 71 (3–4): 400–403. doi:10.1080/00306525.2000.9639840. S2CID 84507844.
Further readingedit
Graetz, J. (1991) Nest observations of the Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 1: 2.
Powzyk, J. (1995) Exceptional observations in Mantadia National Park Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 5 (2): 4
Safford, Roger (2000) Photospot: Helmet Vanga Bulletin of the African Bird Club volume 7.1
External linksedit
ARKive -
BirdLife Species Factsheet
November 25, 2023
helmet, vanga, helmet, vanga, euryceros, prevostii, distinctive, looking, bird, vanga, family, vangidae, classified, genus, euryceros, mainly, blue, black, with, rufous, wings, huge, arched, blue, bill, restricted, lowland, lower, montane, rainforests, northea. The helmet vanga Euryceros prevostii is a distinctive looking bird of the vanga family Vangidae and is classified in its own genus Euryceros It is mainly blue black with rufous wings and a huge arched blue bill It is restricted to lowland and lower montane rainforests of northeastern Madagascar Its diet is composed of invertebrates predominantly insects The species is threatened by habitat loss Helmet vangaConservation statusEndangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder PasseriformesFamily VangidaeGenus EurycerosLesson 1831Species E prevostiiBinomial nameEuryceros prevostiiLesson 1831 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Behaviour 4 1 Breeding 5 Threats and conservation 6 Gallery 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksTaxonomy editThe helmet vanga is the only member of the genus Euryceros Like most vangas it was originally placed in the shrike family Laniidae When the ornithologist Austin L Rand moved the majority of the vangas into a separate family in 1936 he placed the helmet vanga in its own monotypic family Eurycerotidae It was moved to the vanga family by J Dorst in 1960 The closest relative within the family is believed to be the rufous vanga which is thought to have split from the helmet vanga 800 000 years ago 2 The specific name prevostii commemorates the French artist Florent Prevost Description edit nbsp Global distributionThe helmet vanga is a large vanga the second largest species of vanga after the sickle billed vanga In length it measures 28 to 31 cm 11 12 in and it weighs 84 to 114 g 3 0 4 0 oz The most distinctive feature is the massive hooked bill which is 51 mm 2 0 in long and 30 mm 1 2 in deep 2 The plumage of the head neck throat breast and belly is a solid blue black as are the primary coverts and remiges of the wing The mantle the back and the rest of the wings are rufous The tail which is long and broad is black below and rufous above The bill is bright blue with a black tip Both sexes are alike 2 Distribution and habitat editIt is restricted to lowland and lower montane rainforests in north eastern Madagascar Sites where it can be found include Marojejy National Park Makira Natural Park the Masoala National Park and Mantadia National Park Behaviour editAdults mainly eat large insects but food items brought to young in the nest may be more varied including snails lizards spiders and crabs Breeding edit Helmet vangas are monogamous and seasonal breeders The breeding season runs from October to January on the Masoala Peninsula Both sexes work on the construction of the nest which is a cup shape 15 cm 5 9 in in diameter constructed from woven plant fibres mosses and twigs and is placed in a fork in a tree 2 to 4 m 6 6 13 1 ft off the ground There is one record of courtship feeding by a male before copulation The clutch size is two or three pinkish white eggs 3 Threats and conservation editThe helmet vanga is considered to be threatened with extinction due to habitat loss The species is restricted to undisturbed humid rainforest and this habitat is increasingly being cleared for agriculture and forestry Their population between 6000 15000 mature individuals is becoming increasingly fragmented 1 Ecological modelling suggests that much of their remaining habitat will be lost in 50 years due to climate change Because of these issues the species has been listed as vulnerable by the IUCN 1 Gallery edit nbsp Skeleton of helmet vanga nbsp Helmet vanga on nest showing the massive bill nbsp Feeding three chicks in the nestReferences edit a b c BirdLife International 2018 Euryceros prevostii IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22708058A131736320 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2018 2 RLTS T22708058A131736320 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 a b c Rocamora Gerard Yeatman Berthelot Dosithee 2009 Family Vangidae Vangas In del Hoyo Josep Elliott Andrew Christie David eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 14 Bush shrikes to Old World Sparrows Barcelona Lynx Edicions pp 142 170 ISBN 978 84 96553 50 7 La Marca Giuseppe Russell Thorstrom 2000 Breeding biology diet and vocalization of the Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii on the Masoala Peninsula Madagascar Ostrich 71 3 4 400 403 doi 10 1080 00306525 2000 9639840 S2CID 84507844 Further reading editGraetz J 1991 Nest observations of the Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 1 2 Powzyk J 1995 Exceptional observations in Mantadia National Park Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 5 2 4 Safford Roger 2000 Photospot Helmet Vanga Bulletin of the African Bird Club volume 7 1External links editARKive images and movies of the helmet vanga Euryceros prevostii BirdLife Species Factsheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Helmet vanga amp oldid 1152189148, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
