Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa Scientific name definitions

The newtonias are four species of small insectivorous birds, endemic to Madagascar. All species in the genus are generally warbler-like in appearance and behavior, and indeed until recently they were classified in the family Sylviidae, which included many groups of Old World warblers. Genetic evidence reveals, however, that newtonias are members of the vanga family (Vangidae), of which they are the smallest-bodied species. Dark Newtonia occurs only in relatively intact humid evergreen forests in eastern Madagascar, although it occurs along the full length of these habitats, from Montagne d'Ambre in the far north south to the southern terminus of humid forest in southeastern Madagascar. It occupies an elevational range of 400-2,300 m, although it probably is most common from 800-1,200 m. Dark Newtonia is completely sympatric with the very similar Common Newtonia (N. brunneicauda), but Dark Newtonia is more restricted to dense understory of intact humid forests. It also is sympatric with Red-tailed Newtonia (N. fanovanae), a rather different looking species that forages in the canopy of tall forest. Dark Newtonia is a frequent member of mixed species flocks, foraging with other understory insectivores, such as White-throated Oxylabes (Oxylabes madagascariensis) and Spectacled Tetraka (Xanthomixis zosterops), and typically captures prey with gleans. Dark Newtonia is grayish brown above, and paler brown below, with a golden-yellow or yellow-orange iris, and gray tarsi.