Helmet Vanga

Taxobox
name = Helmet Vanga
status = VU
status_system = IUCN3.1
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=8404|title=Euryceros prevostii|downloaded=11 May 2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is vulnerable]
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Vangidae
genus = "Euryceros"
genus_authority = Lesson, 1831
species = "E. prevostii"
binomial = "Euryceros prevostii"
binomial_authority = Lesson, 1831The Helmet Vanga "Euryceros prevostii" is a distinctive-looking bird of the vanga family, Vangidae, with a huge arched blue bill. It is the only member of its genus.

It is restricted to lowland and lower montane rainforests in north-east Madagascar.

Sites where it can be found include Marojejy Strict Nature Reserve, the Masoala National Park and Mantadia National Park.

Adults mainly eat large insects, but food items brought to young in the nest may be more varied , including snails, lizards, spiders and crabs.

The binomial of this bird commemorates the French artist Florent Prévost.

References

Further reading

* Graetz, J. (1991) "Nest observations of the Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii" Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 1: 2.
* Powzyk, J. (1995) "Exceptional observations in Mantadia National Park" Newsletter of the Working Group on Madagascar Birds 5 (2): 4
* Safford, Roger (2000) "Photospot: Helmet Vanga" Bulletin of the African Bird Club volume 7.1

External links

*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Euryceros_prevostii/ images and movies of the helmet vanga "(Euryceros prevostii)"]
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=6255&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]