Crossley's vanga, also known as Crossley's babbler-vanga, Crossley's babbler, Madagascar groundhunter, or Madagascar groundjumper, is a bird species in the family Vangidae. It is named after the specimen collector Alfred Crossley.
Region
Eastern Madagascar
Typical Environment
Occurs along the eastern escarpment of Madagascar in primary and well-developed secondary humid forests. It favors dense, shaded understory with abundant leaf litter, tangled vines, and bamboo thickets, often near streams and ravines. The species spends much time on or near the ground, moving through low vegetation and along the forest floor. It can persist in moderately degraded forest if sufficient understory cover remains.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called Crossley’s babbler-vanga, this species is a terrestrial, understory specialist of Madagascar’s eastern rainforests and is one of the most ground-oriented vangas. It was long grouped with babblers before genetic work placed it firmly in the Vangidae. Its bold whitish moustachial stripe and rufous tail are distinctive in the dim forest floor light.
Details of morphology
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually found singly, in pairs, or small family groups, keeping to dense understory. Pairs defend small territories and likely form monogamous bonds during the breeding season. Nests are placed low in vegetation, with both parents involved in care.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song is a series of thin, high-pitched whistles delivered from low perches, often repeated and slightly descending. Calls include sharp ticks and soft chatter used for contact within pairs in dense cover.
Plumage
Brown-olive upperparts with a warmer rufous tail, pale buff underparts with faint dusky streaking on the breast and flanks. Face shows a dark mask contrasting with a bold whitish moustachial stripe; throat paler. Feathers are soft and well-suited to stealthy movement through dense understory.
Diet
Primarily hunts insects and other small arthropods, including beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders. Forages by gleaning from low stems and leaves and by picking prey from leaf litter. Often flips leaves and probes mossy logs and root tangles to find concealed prey.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on or near the forest floor within dense understory, especially along stream edges, ravines, and bamboo or vine tangles. Prefers areas with deep leaf litter and complex ground structure for cover and foraging.
