Photo: J G Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Crossley’s Vanga
Mystacornis crossleyi
Crossley's Vanga (Mystacornis crossleyi) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
The Crossley’s Vanga (Mystacornis crossleyi) is a member of the Vangidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 24.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Vangidae Vangas & Allies
- Genus Mystacornis
- Species crossleyi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 24.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Vangidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Crossley’s Vanga is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Crossley’s Vanga is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Crossley’s Vanga (Mystacornis crossleyi) is a species of bird in the Vangidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF nw, e Madagascar.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 24.5 g, with a wing length of about 7 cm and a tail of around 5.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 160,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Crossley’s Vanga?
The Crossley’s Vanga is a small bird that weighs around 24.5 g.
Where does the Crossley’s Vanga live?
The Crossley’s Vanga is found across Africa with a range covering AF nw, e Madagascar, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Crossley’s Vanga belong to?
The Crossley’s Vanga (Mystacornis crossleyi) belongs to the Vangidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Crossley’s Vanga eat?
The Crossley’s Vanga is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Crossley’s Vanga migrate?
The Crossley’s Vanga is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Crossley’s Vanga endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Crossley’s Vanga make?
1 real field recording of the Crossley’s Vanga — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Crossley’s Vanga's range?
The Crossley’s Vanga has a mapped global range of about 160,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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