White-breasted Mesite
Mesitornis variegatus
Odd ground-dwelling bird that is rarely seen by those not looking for it. Brown upperparts, pale underparts, and elaborately striped head. Usually seen in pairs or family groups, walking on the forest floor. Defense behavior is to fly into a tree and freeze. Patchily distributed, mainly in western dry forest, but locally also in rainforest. Call is an incredibly loud and strident mix of clear “whee” notes and fast chuckling notes, usually given in duet by a pair. Can be separated from other mesites by range. Walks on the ground like Madagascar Buttonquail, but much larger and longer-tailed. Could be confused with White-throated Rail, but shorter and slimmer, longer-tailed, with pale underparts. Also slimmer, longer-tailed, and more elaborately patterned than a wood-rail.
Identification
The white-breasted mesite 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 white face with distinctive facial markings (a white supercilium and dark malar stripes) and a short dark straight bill. The upperparts are rufous brown, the underside is white with a tawny chest band and a barred belly. The wings are short and rounded and the bird only flies a few metres when pursued. It has a melodic song and sings in the early morning and during the day.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Mesitornis variegatus
- Authority
- (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, I, 1838)
- Order
- Mesitornithiformes
- Family
- Mesitornithidae
- Genus
- Mesitornis
Range and habitat
The preferred habitat is undisturbed deciduous forest and the bird has a restricted distribution on five sites in the north and west of Madagascar, as well as one in the east, Ambatovaky Reserve. The northern and western sites are Analamerana Reserve, Ankarafantsika National Park, Ankarana Special Reserve, Daraina forests and Menabe forest.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The white-breasted mesite is a forest species; living in groups of two to four individuals which can be seen resting, or feeding on the ground during the day. The brown upper plumage provides camouflage while the bird forage on the forest floor, flicking over leaf-litter to find invertebrates. Diet includes beetles, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, flies, moths, spiders, and also seeds. Egg-laying mainly takes place from November to January with one to three white eggs with rust-coloured spots. The nests are a simple structure of interwoven twigs, within vegetation, and close to the ground.
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Samoan Triller
Lalage sharpei
A rather long-tailed and long-winged bird with a short stubby head, similar in proportions to a small cuckooshrike. Rather plain light-brown above and pale white below, faintly barred with brown. Bill distinctively bright orange, with a white beady eye. Found above 200 meters of elevation in primary and secondary forest. Voice includes a thin, weak descending trill, or five clear “twee-twee-twee-twee-twee” notes.
Purple-throated Fruitcrow
Querula purpurata
Large, mostly black bird found in the canopy of lowland forests. Male has wine-colored throat that can be puffed out expressively, but is often difficult to see in poor light. The overall dark color, stout silvery bill, and chunky proportions help identify this bird even at a distance. Also listen for the distinctive purring whistles, “prr-woop, prr-woop.” Typically found in small vocal groups that parade through the canopy, sometimes following mixed-species flocks. Compare with umbrellabirds, which are larger, have a puffy crest, and are much less vocal.
Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
Small and rotund with intricate brown, black, and white patterning. Some striking variation in plumage across range. Most males, including those in the eastern U.S., have bold black and white head pattern and heavy white spotting on belly. In Mexico, males can be entirely cinnamon-colored below and have a fully black head; some might have a white eyebrow or a dark chest band. Females are more consistent throughout range: look for buffy throat and eyebrow. Pairs or small groups are found in scrubby fields and brushy woods. Usually on the ground, but occasionally perches in trees when singing. The only quail native to the eastern U.S., where populations are declining sharply. Listen for distinctive “bob-WHITE!” whistle.
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