Velvet Asity
Philepitta castanea
The Velvet Asity (Philepitta castanea) is a rare asiti found in 2 countries, weighing about 35 g. The velvet asity is a bird species in the family Philepittidae that is endemic to Madagascar.
About the Velvet Asity
The velvet asity is a bird species in the family Philepittidae that is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Non-breeding males have yellow-tipped feathers, while breeding males have a velvety black plumage with a pair of green fleshy supraorbital caruncles above the eyes. Adult females are greenish and have underparts striped with pale yellow-green longitudinal lines. Velvet asities eat berries and other fruits in the undergrowth. They build hanging nests with a little roof over the entrance. The species is listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The velvet asity has a minimum longevity of about 7 years. Its body is small and plump, measuring ~14–16.5 cm in length and weighing ~38.9 g. The tail (~42.5 mm) and wings (~82.1 mm) are rounded and short. The bill is slightly decurved and narrow, measuring ~18.1 mm in length and ~6.0 mm in width. The legs are relatively short. The morphology of the velvet asity is not suited for strong or sustained flight because of its poor wing structure and chunky body. Instead, it is well adapted for perch foraging, where its short and narrow bill allows it to easily pick fruit from a perch. Voice: Males produce a high-pitched advertisement call, consisting of a pair or short series of “whee-doo” with an emphasis on the first syllable. A “whee-doo” phrase typically has an initial note that increases from 5.5–6.3 kHz over 100 ms, followed by a 50 ms pause, and a final note that decreases from 5.4–4.8 kHz over 150–190 ms.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in November. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Velvet Asity?
- The velvet asity has a minimum longevity of about 7 years. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Velvet Asity?
- The Velvet Asity is a small sized bird weighing about 35 g.
- Where can you see a Velvet Asity?
- The Velvet Asity occurs in 2 countries, including Madagascar and Moldova.
- What birds look similar to a Velvet Asity?
- The Velvet Asity is most easily confused with the Schlegel's Asity.
- Is the Velvet Asity endangered?
- The Velvet Asity is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Velvet Asity for real
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