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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
Brown Mesite
Song
Soft, brief trill with flute-like quality; pure notes given from dense forest floor in Madagascar. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Subdesert Mesite
Song
Soft, brief trill with whistling quality; pure notes given quietly from Madagascar dry spiny forest.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Brown Mesite
Vulnerable
Subdesert Mesite
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
Brown Mesite
Plumage
Brown Mesite: uniformly rich brown above and below; long graduated tail; white throat; bare facial skin; Madagascar ground species
Subdesert Mesite
Plumage
Subdesert Mesite: pale buff-gray below; olive-brown above; bold white supercilium; long tail; Madagascar subdesert specialist
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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Brown Mesite (Mesitornis unicolor) — 28–31 cm. Uniformly rufous-brown above and below; pale throat; long tail; flightless in practice. Endemic to humid eastern rainforest of Madagascar. Non-parasitic; ground-nesting. Omnivore. Vulnerable; highly susceptible to forest loss and introduced predators.
Subdesert Mesite (Monias benschi) — 28–32 cm. Pale brown and buff above; white underparts with dark spotting on breast; long bill; long tail. Restricted to a narrow coastal strip of spiny desert in southwest Madagascar. Non-parasitic; nests in low shrubs. Omnivore; forages on bare sandy ground. Vulnerable; very restricted range.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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