Justification This species has a small range, restricted to north-eastern Madagascar, where its lowland forest habitat is being cleared rapidly for subsistence agriculture and timber. On this basis, its population is likley to be severely fragmented and declining rapidly, thus it is listed as Vulnerable.

Family/Sub-family Vangidae

Species name author Lesson, 1831

Taxonomic source(s) Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Identification 28-31 cm. Very distinctive, large, deep-billed vanga. Black, with massive, pale blue bill, and chestnut mantle, rump and central tail feathers. Juvenile is mixture of dark and pale brown with pale brown bill. Similar spp. Difficult to confuse with any other species. Voice Sometimes detected by call, a fluty, descending pepepepewpew. Hints Rather secretive and difficult to find, as often sits immobile in subcanopy for long periods. Most conspicuous when flying at prey.

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

10,000-19,999

decreasing

17,000 km²

Yes

Range & population Euryceros prevostii is restricted to the northern part of the humid evergreen forests of eastern Madagascar, from Tsaratanana south to Mantadia in the centre-east⁴. The species is only known from primary forest, generally below 800 m, where it is uncommon² and patchy in distribution.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It is a bird of primary, mainly lowland rainforest, occupying the middle stratum in areas with large trees⁴, often occurring in mixed-species groups with other vangas (Vangidae)³. It feeds on large insects and other invertebrates, sally-gleaning from branches and trunks as well as from the ground³.

Threats Low-altitude forest in Madagascar is a critically threatened habitat, largely due to clearance for shifting agriculture but also owing to commercial exploitation of timber¹. The species's inability to survive outside this habitat puts it at risk.

Conservation measures underway This species is known from the following protected areas: Ambatovaky Special Reserve, Anjanaharibe Classified Forest, Anjanaharibe-South Special Reserve, Betampona Strict Reserve, Bezavona Classified Forest, Haute Rantabe Classified Forest, Mantadia National Park, Marojejy National Park, Masoala National Park, Tsaratanana Strict Reserve and Zahamena National Park⁴.

Conservation measures proposed Conduct surveys in order to assess its population size. Compare population data from protected and unprotected habitat⁵. Once a baseline population estimate has been obtained, carry out regular surveys to monitor population trends. Compare population trends in protected and unprotected habitat⁵. Monitor rates of forest clearance and degradation. Determine its home-range size and its dispersal capability across deforested areas, in order to clarify the impact of forest fragmentation on its population structure. Improve awareness of conservation and the implications of widespread forest loss among local people.

References 1. Du Puy and Moat (1996). 2. Langrand (1990). 3. Morris and Hawkins (1998). 4. ZICOMA (1999). 5. M. Rabenandrasana in litt. (2007).

Text account compilers Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Mike Evans (BirdLife International), Pete Robertson (BirdLife International), Malcolm Starkey (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Contributors Frank Hawkins (Conservation International), Marc Rabenandrasana (Asity: Ligue Malagache pour la Protec. des Oiseaux)

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Joe Taylor (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Euryceros prevostii. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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