Madagascar Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri)
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Madagascar Spinetail

Zoonavena grandidieri (Verreaux, J, 1867)

8 gWeight

The Madagascar spinetail, Madagascan spinetail or Malagasy spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.

Busiest months: October–November · Most records: Madagascar, Comoros

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Madagascar Spinetail has been recorded at 22 of the 8,171 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Andasibe-Mantadia NPMadagascar320 records
  2. Iaroka ForestMadagascar150 records
  3. Ifaty – spiny forest reservesMadagascar144 records
More places
  1. Zombitse-Vohibasia NPMadagascar135 records
  2. Andasibe Mantadia National ParkMadagascar122 records
  3. PerinetMadagascar115 records
  4. Ranomafana NPMadagascar43 records
  5. Berenty ReserveMadagascar34 records
  6. Analamazaotra Forest StationMadagascar19 records
  7. Le Relais de la Reine/Le Jardin du RoyMadagascar16 records

Countries and regions with the most records

MadagascarComoros

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Madagascar spinetail, Madagascan spinetail or Malagasy spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) is a species of swift in the family Apodidae.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Madagascar Spinetail?

The Madagascar Spinetail weighs around 8 g.

Where does the Madagascar Spinetail live?

Its breeding range: Africa: western Comoros and Madagascar. It is most often recorded in Madagascar and Comoros.

When is the best time to see the Madagascar Spinetail?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in October and November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Madagascar Spinetail endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Madagascar Spinetail as Least Concern.

What does the Madagascar Spinetail eat?

Main food: Insects & other invertebrates.

What family is the Madagascar Spinetail in?

It belongs to the family Swifts (Apodidae), order Apodiformes.

At a glance

Weight
8 g
Habitat
Forest
Diet
Insects & other invertebrates
Lifestyle
Feeds in the air
Migration
Resident (barely migrates)
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
124 mm
Tail
42 mm
Bill
5 mm
Tarsus
10 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Africa: western Comoros and Madagascar

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Swifts Apodidae
Genus
Zoonavena

Other birds in the genus Zoonavena

Sao Tome SpinetailSao Tome SpinetailZoonavena thomensisWhite-rumped SpinetailWhite-rumped SpinetailZoonavena sylvaticaSpot-fronted SwiftSpot-fronted SwiftCypseloides cherrieiWhite-chinned SwiftWhite-chinned SwiftCypseloides cryptusWhite-fronted SwiftWhite-fronted SwiftCypseloides storeriSooty SwiftSooty SwiftCypseloides fumigatusRothschild's SwiftRothschild's SwiftCypseloides rothschildiAmerican Black SwiftAmerican Black SwiftCypseloides nigerWhite-chested SwiftWhite-chested SwiftCypseloides lemosiGreat Dusky SwiftGreat Dusky SwiftCypseloides senex
Madagascar Spinetail

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Greg Lasley. ↗

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