The Velvet Asity is a beautiful bird from Madagascar. The Asities are also known as False-Sunbirds, but they are more closely related to Broadbills.

The range of the Velvet Asity is limited (as are the other Asities) to Madagascar. 

Classification

Order:  Passeriformes
Family:  Philepittidae
Genus:  Philepitta
Species:  P. castanea

Photos:

Here are links to two photos of the Velvet Asity:

Male

Female

Video:

I have not been able to find video of this species. If you have a video, please leave a comment. 

Discussion: 

Why blue birds are blue

The wattles above the eyes of the velvet asity (Philepitta castanea, a fruit-eating bird from Madagascar, contain tightly-packed arrays of collagen that scatter light. (Unlike blues, not all gr…   Read more…

madagascar trip, part 2 - may 14 and 15

velvet asity (philepitta castanea) insects/arachnids crab spider. giraffe weevil, appropriately classified as trachelophorus giraffa. we only saw the female in andasibe. a grasshopper, which ma…   Read more…

day 2-3

birds at the perinet reserve include the blue coua, red-fronted coua, blue vanga, red-tailed vanga, velvet asity, sunbird asity, pitta-like ground roller, short-legged ground roller, brown mesi…   Read more…