Mesite
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Mesitornis, Monias |
The mesites are a small group of birds of uncertain affinities often alternatively placed with the Rallidae. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. They are brownish birds generally with paler undersides. There are two genera, Mesitornis, the White-breasted Mesite and the Brown Mesite, and Monias, the Subdesert Mesite.
They are forest and scrub birds which feed on insects and seeds. These are collected in the case of the Brown and White-breasted Mesites by foraging on the ground, gleaning inescts from the leaves and under them, as well as low vegetation. The Subdesert Mesite uses its long bill to probe in the soil. Other birds, like drongos and flycatchers will follow mesites to catch any insects they flush and miss. Mestites are vocal birds, with calls similar to passerine bird song, used for territorial defence. The usually single white egg is laid in a nest in a bush. Two of the species (Mesitornis) are monogamous, the other is polygamous.
They are the only family with more than two species in which every kind is threatened, all three are listed as vunerable, and are expected to decline greatly in the next 20 years. None of the mesites have any legal protection, and none are the subject of ex-situ conservation. They are threatened by habitat loss and introduced species.
- ORDER GALLIFORMES
- Family Megapodiidae: mound-builders
- Family Cracidae: chachalacas, guans and curassows
- Family Tetraonidae: grouse
- Family Phasianidae: partridges, pheasants, quail, and allies
- Family Odontophoridae: New World quail
- Family Numididae: guineafowl
- Family Meleagrididae: turkeys
- Family Mesitornithidae
- White-breasted Mesite, Mesitornis variegata
- Brown Mesite, Mesitornis unicolor
- Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi
External links
- Subdesert Mesite (http://www.lukecole.com/Madagascar/Birds/SUME.htm) (Ifaty, Madagascar) — a photo by Luke W. Colefr:Mésite