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The island of Madagascar near the coast of Africa creates the ideal conditions for the existence of its animal and bird species. The fauna of Madagascar is made up of a variety and a large number of animals and birds. Madagascar birds, though lesser in number than the animals, include many different interesting species. Madagascar contains many unique birds that are found in only a few places on earth.
With 258 species of birds out of which 115 are native species, Madagascar forms the only country in Africa that has various singular species of birds which are specific to only Madagascar. The endemic species of Madagascar birds can be categorized into five native bird families. Some of the numerous Madagascar birds are Sparrowhawk, common Myna, Madagascar Swamp-Warbler, Madagascar Lovebird, Madagascar Blue Pigeon, different types of ducks, Oriental Darter, Grey Heron, African Swift, Marsh Owl, Madagascar cuckoo-Falcon, short-legged Ground-Roller and others. There are also Cattle Egret, Madagascar Buzzard, red-tailed Vanga, Madagascar Wood Rail, Collared Nightjar, Madagascar Magpie-robin, parrots, crows, Madagascar fish-eagle, falcons and many more.
Birds of Madagascar in historical periods consisted of huge land bird and elephant birds which were called Aepyomis. The largest of the birds in Madagascar weighed more than 500kg or 1100 pounds and had a height of 10 feet. The extinction of the elephant birds in Madagascar took place due to several reasons. Factors which led to their extermination were hunting which is a popular practice in the island of Madagascar, emergence of new species and a loss of the habitats of the birds due to changing ecological and climatic conditions. Remnants of these gigantic Madagascar birds are found in their huge eggs which have been collected and put up for sale in different areas of the country.
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