Mesite

A ground-dwelling bird in the family Mesitornithidae, found only in Madagascar. The family comprises three species and is the sole family in the order Mesitornithiformes.

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Mesitornithidae: A family of three ground-dwelling bird species endemic to Madagascar. Mesite is the common name for birds in this family.
Brown mesite: A forest-dwelling mesite species with brown plumage, native to Madagascar. It is one of the family’s three living species.
Leaf litter: The layer of fallen leaves and other plant material covering the soil in forests. Mesites search through it for invertebrates and other food.
Habitat fragmentation: The division of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches. Fragmented Malagasy forests can separate mesite populations and reduce suitable territory.
Mesitornithiformes: The bird order consisting solely of the family Mesitornithidae. This order places mesites in their own distinct branch of bird classification.
White-breasted mesite: A mesite species with a pale breast, found in Madagascar’s western dry forests. Its plumage and dry-forest range distinguish it from its relatives.
Insectivory: A diet or feeding strategy based chiefly on eating insects and other arthropods. Invertebrates are a major component of mesite diets.
Deforestation in Madagascar: The clearing and degradation of forest habitats across Madagascar. Forest loss threatens mesites that depend on intact woodland and scrub.
Endemism: The ecological condition of a species or group being native to one geographic area and found nowhere else. All living mesite species are restricted to Madagascar.
Subdesert mesite: A mesite species adapted to scrub and dry woodland in southwestern Madagascar. It occupies the family’s most arid habitat.