Schlegel’s Asity: A Rare Avian Marvel with a Vivid, Flᴜorescent, Tye-Dyed Face

Mᴇᴇᴛ Schlegel’s asity (Philepitta schlegeli), a remarkably rare bird species belonging to the Philepittidae family. During the breeding season, the male sports a dazzling plumage with bright yellow on his upperparts and mantle, complemented by an olive-green shade elsewhere. The underparts are adorned with yellow hues, tinged with hints of olive-green, while the rump exhibits a dark grey color. One of the most striking features of the male is his head, which is adorned with a vivid, featherless, bright blue and green wattled area around each eye. The bill is black with an orange-yellow gape, his eyes are brown, and his legs display a shade of grey.

Iɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴀsᴛ, the female resembles a non-breeding male, showcasing more of an olive color on the upper parts and a white to yellow-olive hue on the underparts. Meanwhile, juveniles bear a resemblance to the female of the species.

Iɴᴅɪɢᴇɴᴏᴜs ᴛᴏ Madagascar, Schlegel’s asity can be found in the Nᴏʀᴛʜᴇʀɴ, Nᴏʀᴛʜᴡᴇsᴛᴇʀɴ, and Wᴇsᴛᴇʀɴ ʀᴇɢɪᴏɴs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ island nation. These birds prefer to inhabit seasonally dry rainforested areas in proximity to humid or sheltered locations, typically at elevations around 800 meters.

Aꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ dietary preferences, this species primarily feeds on small fruits during the rainy season but switches to nectar and insects when the dry season sets in.

Bʀᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴀᴍᴏɴɢ Schlegel’s asity takes place from October to December, during which the female constructs a globular woven nest suspended from a branch, usually positioned 2 to 5 meters above the ground. The nest’s main materials consist of moss, and occasionally include dead leaves and spider webs. Not much is known about the intricacies of their breeding process.

Sᴀᴅʟʏ, the habitat of the Schlegel’s asity faces significant threats from human activities, such as grazing and deforestation for firewood. As a consequence, the population of these enchanting birds is on the decline, leading to their classification as “near threatened.”