Philepitta schlegeli, also known as the Velvet Asity, is a small bird found in the rainforests of Madagascar.
The Velvet Asity has a distinctive and colorful plumage, with a bright green head and back, and a velvet black body. The male has an additional bright yellow patch on its throat. It has a short, thick bill, which it uses to feed on insects.
The Velvet Asity is known for its loud and distinctive call, which is a series of whistles and trills. It is often found in pairs or small groups, and can be seen perched on branches or flying through the forest canopy.
The Velvet Asity is currently listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), due to habitat loss and degradation caused by logging and slash-and-burn agriculture. Conservation efforts are underway to protect the remaining rainforest habitat of the Velvet Asity and other endemic species of Madagascar.
