nounplural noun asities

• A stocky bird related to the pittas, found only in Madagascar.

  Family Philepittidae: two genera, in particular Philepitta (two species). See also
  false sunbird

  ‘The Old World has only about 50 species of suboscines, and these fall into three small groups: the outrageously colorful, short-legged, plump pittas; the broadbills; and the asities.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Sunbird asities (genus Neodrepanis) are aggressive and compete with other species for food.’
  • ‘Broadbills are thought to be closely related to pittas and asities (Philepittidae).’
  • ‘Their closest relatives are broadbills and asities (Philepittidae).’
  • ‘Prum concluded that the endemic family of asities and sunbird-asities is embedded in the broadbill family and sister to the African genus Pseudocalyptomena.’