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The 'mesites' ('Mesitornithidae') are a family of birds of uncertain affinities. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. Generally brownish with paler undersides, they are of somewhat pheasant-like appearance and were initially placed with the Galliformes. As these are Galloanserae, unlike mesites, this is rejected today. Most commonly, they are placed in the Gruiformes (cranes, rails and allies), but this is again disputed in more recent times.
Historically, theys have also been allied with the doves and the dippers. While the latter is certainly incorrect, there is some indication that they might indeed be closer (though not very close) to the Columbiformes. The purported gruiforms Kagu and Sunbittern (and possibly the extinct adzebills too) might also be not-too-distant relatives. These latter taxa, remarkably, were all only tentatively placed in the Gruiformes, and are apparently all of Gondwanan origin; like the mesites, the Kagu and Sunbittern are among the rather few birds possessing powder down. Still, the data hinting at a possible relationship between the "odd gruiforms" (and possibly pigeons) is by no means robust enough to draw a firm conclusion.(Fain & Houde 2004) Arguably, they might be considered an order of their own ('Mesitornithiformes') as has on occasion been done in the past, but unlike with the Hoatzin, little phylogenetic research has yet been conducted on mesites.

Contents

Systematics

Habitat and feeding

References

External links

Systematics

There are two genera, ''Mesitornis'' (2 species) and ''Monias'' (Subdesert Mesite).

★ White-breasted Mesite, ''Mesitornis variegata''

★ Brown Mesite, ''Mesitornis unicolor''

★ Subdesert Mesite ''Monias benschi''

Habitat and feeding

They are forest and scrub birds which feed on insects and seeds. The Brown and White-breasted Mesites forage on the ground, gleaning insects 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 such as drongos and flycatchers will follow mesites to catch any insects they flush and miss. Mesites are vocal birds, with calls similar to passerine song, used for territorial defence. The usually single white egg is laid in a nest in a bush. The ''Mesitornis'' species are monogamous; ''Monias benschi'' is polygamous and unlike the other two shows significant sexual dichromatism.
They are the only family with more than two species in which every kind is threatened; all three are listed as vulnerable 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.

References

★ 'Fain', Matthew G. & 'Houde', Peter (2004): Parallel radiations in the primary clades of birds. ''Evolution'' '58'(11): 2558-2573. PDF fulltext

External links

★ Subdesert Mesite (Ifaty, Madagascar) — a photo by Luke W. Cole

★ Mesite videos on the Internet Bird Collection