Asities
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.
- Family: Philepittidae
- Velvet Asity, Philepitta castanea
- Schlegel's Asity, Philepitta schlegeli
- Sunbird Asity, Neodrepanis coruscans
- Yellow-bellied Asity Neodrepanis hypoxanthus