Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea

Dark, dumpy bird of the rainforest understory. Males are all black with green bare skin on the head in breeding plumage and black with yellow scaling in non-breeding plumage. Females are olive-green on the back and scaly below. Madagascar endemic that is found in eastern rainforest at low and middle elevations. Sits motionless for long periods, and flies weakly. Usually alone or in pairs, often near fruiting trees. High-pitched call is reminiscent of a dry branch scraping a windowpane. Female is similar to female Schlegel’s Asity, but is separated by range.