Philepittidae

views updated May 23 2018

Philepittidae (asities, false sunbirds; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family which comprises two distinct genera, Philepitta (asities) and Neodrepanis (false sunbirds). Asities are small, plump, short-tailed birds that have a yellow-green or black body and black head, and a bare wattle around the eyes. The bill is fairly short and slightly decurved. Asities feed on fruit and build a nest suspended from a branch. False sunbirds are small, blue and yellow, with a bare wattle around the eyes, and a long, slender, decurved bill. They feed on nectar and insects. Both genera inhabit forest bushes. There are two species in each genus, confined to Madagascar.

false sunbirds

views updated May 11 2018

false sunbirds (Neodrepanis) See PHILEPITTIDAE.