Brown Mesite
Mesitornis unicolor
Odd, plain brown, ground-dwelling bird that is rarely seen by those not looking for it. Usually seen in pairs or family groups, walking on the forest floor. Found in eastern rainforest at low and middle elevations, usually on steep slopes. Call is a loud and explosive series of descending or two-noted whistles, usually given in duet by a pair. Can be separated from other mesites by range. Similar to Madagascar Wood-Rail, but slimmer, longer-tailed, and with paler underparts.
Identification
This species is a medium-sized terrestrial bird which is often described as rail-like (a family with which the mesites are sometimes placed). The species has a plain face, marked only by a slightly contrasting fleshy eye-ring around a rather large eye and a variable white streak behind the eye. It has a short straight bill. The upperparts of the bird are rufous brown, the underside tawny with no barring or spotting.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Mesitornis unicolor
- Authority
- (des Murs, 1845)
- Order
- Mesitornithiformes
- Family
- Mesitornithidae
- Genus
- Mesitornis
Range and habitat
The brown mesite has a patchy distribution in humid evergreen forest along the eastern coast of Madagascar, from Marojejy National Park in the north to Tôlanaro to the south.
- Migration
- Vertical migration
Behavior
The brown mesite is a humid forest species, it forages by walking through the forest floor flicking over leaf-litter in order to find invertebrates. Its rufous brown plumage provides reasonable camouflage on the shady forest floor. The preferred habitat is undisturbed deciduous forest from sea-level up to 1,200 meters (3,900 ft). One to three eggs are laid in a nest which consists of a loose platform made from twigs and lined with plant fibre and leaves. The eggs are dull white with brown markings on one end. Soon after hatching the chicks leave the nest. It is secretive and rarely seen.The brown mesite has never been observed flying; this may be simply due to its secretive habits, or it may be because it is in fact flightless.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Red-backed Fairywren
Malurus melanocephalus
A small bird with a long tail that is held cocked. Breeding males are mostly black with red back and rump. Nonbreeding males and females are extremely similar—both are pale brownish birds with brown tails. Their plumage has a warmer, browner tone than female Superb Fairywren. Red-backed Fairywrens are found in grasslands, swamps, and areas with long grass around tropical northern Australia and around the east coast into northern New South Wales.
Rennell Starling
Aplonis insularis
A medium-sized, uniformly black starling with a glossy purplish-bluish sheen and a short tail. Bill is relatively thick and stubby. Arrow-shaped throat feathers are often puffed out. Eye pale orange. Juvenile resembles adult, but dustier in color, with a gray eye. Prefers forest edge; less common inside forest and open areas. Very similar to Singing Starling, but distinguished by pale eye, shorter tail, and lack of dark streaks on belly of juvenile. Song consists of metallic warbling. Common call is a metallic “chink.”
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
Fairly large flycatcher of arid habitats. Extremely similar to other Myiarchus flycatchers and most easily identified by voice: listen for low, rough calls and flat “pip.” Also note overall pale appearance, especially the whitish throat and very pale yellow belly. Compare with the nearly identical Nutting’s Flycatcher (especially in Mexico) and larger-billed Brown-crested Flycatcher. Fairly common but unobtrusive in brushy woodlands and thickets in dry regions of western U.S. and Mexico, as far south as Honduras.
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