Mesitornis Monias The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds that are part of a clade (Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes.

Other birds, such as drongos and flycatchers, will follow mesites to catch any insects they flush out or miss.

Mesites are vocal birds, with calls similar to a passerine song, used for territorial defence.

[2] The Mesitornis species are monogamous[3] while Monias benschi is polygamous and, unlike the other two, shows significant sexual dichromatism.

[4][5] Historically, mesites' phylogenetic relationships were not very clear; they have been allied with the Gruiformes,[6] Turniciformes[7] and Columbiformes.