Madagascar Hoopoes, Upupa marginata, 32 cm / 12.6 in. COMMON in heavily wooded margins of forest. Cliff-cavity nesting pair.

Jardin du Roy Resort (VERY nice lodging and food) near Isalo National Park, Madagascar.

©bryanjsmith.

Tags:   Madagascar Birds of Madagascar Madagascar Hoopoe Upupa marginata Upupidae

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Baillon's Crake (Western), Zapornia pusilla intermedia, 17-19 cm / 6.7-7.5 in. Dense vegetation bordering freshwater or brackish lakes and streams, marshes and flooded grasslands.

Seen en-route from Ifaty to Tulear, Toliara, Madagascar.

©bryanjsmith.

Tags:   Crakes Baillon's Crake Birds of Madagascar Rails, Gallinules and Coots Rallidae Zapornia pusilla Porzana pusilla

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Banded Kestrel, Falco zoniventris, 25-35 cm / 9.8-13.8 in. SCARCE and difficult to find ENDEMIC raptor of Madagascar. Primary and secondary forest, including dry forest in the south and southwest. Here at the forest edge on a nest located high in a Baobab Tree. Although, I feel certain that the local guide we hired knew exactly where the nest was located!

Spiny Forest near Ifaty, Toliara, Madagascar.

©bryanjsmith.

Tags:   Birds Kestrels Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris Madagascar Banded Kestrel Falcons and Caracaras Birds of Madagascar

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Colorful Stink Bug, Coquerelia ventralis Spy vs. Spy bugs : )
Handheld EOS 500mm f/4 IS USM Series I + 1.4EX.

Ankarafantsika National Park, Madagascar.

©bryanjsmith.

Tags:   Insects Insects of Madagascar Colorful Stink Bug Coquerelia ventralis

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Forest Rock-Thrush (Benson's), Benson's Rock-Thrush, Monticola sharpei bensoni, 16 cm / 6.3 in. GLOBALLY THREATENED ENDEMIC. Found in low scrubby vegetation near rocks and cliffs. Handheld, overcast weather.

On a cliff at Jardin du Roy Resort, Madagascar.

©bryanjsmith.

Tags:   Birds of Madagascar Monticola bensoni Monticola sharpei bensoni Old World Flycatchers Muscicapidae Forest Rock-Thrush Benson's Rock-Thrush Pseudocossyphus bensoni

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