''Newtonia'' is a
genus of
passerine birds containing four to five species. They were formerly classified in the
Old World warbler family Sylviidae or
Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae but have recently been shown to belong to the
vanga family Vangidae.
[Yamagishi, Satoshi; Honda, Masanao; Eguchi, Kazuhiro & Thorstrom, Russel (2001]
"Extreme endemic radiation of the Malagasy Vangas (Aves: Passeriformes)"
''Journal of Molecular Evolution'', 53: 39-46
They are
endemic to
Madagascar where they occur in
forest or
scrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub, brush, or bush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominance (ecology), dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, Herbaceous plant, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or ...
. They forage in pairs for
insects, often joining
mixed-species feeding flocks.
They are small plump birds, about 12 centimetres in length. They have slender
bills and usually have a pale eye. Their
plumage
Plumage ( "feather") is a layer of feathers that covers a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage differ between species and subspecies and may vary with age classes. Within species, ...
is mainly grey or brown, paler on the underparts. They have loud, repeated
songs.
Species list
List of species in taxonomic order:
*
Northern dark newtonia
The northern dark newtonia (''Newtonia amphichroa'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae.
It is Endemism, endemic to northeastern Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
It was formerly grouped w ...
, ''Newtonia amphichroa''
*
Southern dark newtonia
The southern dark newtonia (''Newtonia lavarambo'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae. It is endemic to the montane forests of southeastern Madagascar, from Andringitra south to Tolagnaro. It was formerly considered a population of th ...
, ''Newtonia lavarambo'' (sometimes considered a subspecies of ''N. amphichroa'')
*
Common newtonia
The common newtonia (''Newtonia brunneicauda'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
It is a s ...
, ''Newtonia brunneicauda''
*
Archbold's newtonia
Archbold's newtonia (''Newtonia archboldi'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae.
It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. The birds have a greyi ...
, ''Newtonia archboldi''
*
Red-tailed newtonia
The red-tailed newtonia (''Newtonia fanovanae'') is a species of bird in the family Vangidae. It is endemic to Madagascar.
Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss
Habitat dest ...
, ''Newtonia fanovanae''
References
* Sinclair, Ian & Langrand, Olivier (2003)
Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands', Struik, Cape Town.
Bird genera
{{Vangidae-stub