Madagascar Spinetail

Zoonavena grandidieri

Madagascar Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) — Swifts of Africa.

The Madagascar Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) is a member of the Apodidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae Swifts
Genus Zoonavena
Species grandidieri

Where it lives

Western Comoros and Madagascar

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 8 g
Diet: Invertebrate-eaters
Family: Apodidae
Order: Apodiformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Madagascar Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Behaviour

A bird of dense forest, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.

Migration

The Madagascar Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Madagascar Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) is a species of bird in the Apodidae family, part of the order Apodiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w Comoros and Madagascar.

It is a very small bird. Adults weighs around 8 g, with a wing length of about 12.5 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 592,000 km².

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Madagascar Spinetail?

The Madagascar Spinetail is a very small bird that weighs around 8 g.

Where does the Madagascar Spinetail live?

The Madagascar Spinetail is found across Africa with a range covering AF w Comoros and Madagascar, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.

What family does the Madagascar Spinetail belong to?

The Madagascar Spinetail (Zoonavena grandidieri) belongs to the Apodidae family, in the order Apodiformes.

What does the Madagascar Spinetail eat?

The Madagascar Spinetail is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.

Does the Madagascar Spinetail migrate?

The Madagascar Spinetail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Madagascar Spinetail endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

How large is the Madagascar Spinetail's range?

The Madagascar Spinetail has a mapped global range of about 592,000 km².