Ankarafantsika National Park has more than 120 bird species recorded and is one of Madagascar’s top birding sites. The deciduous dry forest reliably offers some great specials such as Van Dam’s vanga, sickle-billed vanga and Schlegel’s asity. A boat trip on Lake Ravelobe is rewarding for general waterbirds and to see the white-throated rail and the Critically Endangered Madagascar fish eagle. Other birds of prey include Frances’s sparrowhawk and the Madagascar harrier hawk.
Birding Specials Treats for Avid Birders
- Allen’s gallinule
- Blue vanga
- Chabert vanga
- Coquerel’s coua
- Crested coua
- Frances’s sparrowhawk
- Greater vasa parrot
- Hook-billed vanga
- Humblot’s heron
- Lesser vasa parrot
- Long-billed bernieria
- Madagascar buzzard
- Madagascar crested ibis
- Madagascar fish eagle
- Madagascar green pigeon
- Madagascar harrier hawk
- Madagascar jacana
- Madagascar pygmy kingfisher
- Madagascar sparrowhawk
- Madagascar squacco heron
- Red-capped coua
- Rufous vanga
- Schlegel’s asity
- Sickle-billed vanga
- Van Dam’s vanga
- White-breasted mesite
- White-headed vanga
- White-throated rail
Best Time for Bird Watching
Ankarafantsika is good for birding year-round, with many resident specials that can be seen at any time. However, the best months are November and December, at the beginning of the Wet season (November to March), as this is breeding time and some birds are more vocal then. The breeding period also attracts seasonal species to the lakes, such as Humblot’s heron and the Madagascar jacana. Migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present in the wet summer months too, from November to April.