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Asities

Asities
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Philepittidae
Genera
Philepitta
Neodrepanis
The asities are a family of small passerine bird species found in Madagascar. They were thought to have been related to the pittas, hence the scientific name, but a study by Prum (1993) suggested that they are actually just a subfamily of broadbills. Here they are considered traditionally as a separate family.

These are plump strong-legged birds of the Madagascan forests which take fruit and insects and nest in trees or scrub. The Neodrepanis species will take nectar, and were formerly known as false sunbirds.