The Sickle-billed vanga is a peculiar bird that only occurs in dry forest and scrub forest in western Madagascar (and then mostly in areas protected as national parks). The most striking thing about the bird is, of course, its sickle-like bill, almost eight centimeters long (3.0 in), blue-grey fading to ivory at the tip. The long bill is used to catch insects hidden in cavities or under flakes of bark. It is claimed that it therefore exploits a similar ecological niche as the woodpeckers (which do not occur in Madagascar). However, the beak is not good enough to peck with...