Philepittidae (asities, false sunbirds; class Aves, order Passeriformes) A family which comprises two distinct genera, Philepitta (asities) and Neodrepanis (false sunbirds). Asities are small, plump, short-tailed birds that have a yellow-green or black body and black head, and a bare wattle around the eyes. The bill is fairly short and slightly decurved. Asities feed on fruit and build a nest suspended from a branch. False sunbirds are small, blue and yellow, with a bare wattle around the eyes, and a long, slender, decurved bill. They feed on nectar and insects. Both genera inhabit forest bushes. There are two species in each genus, confined to Madagascar.

false sunbirds (Neodrepanis) See PHILEPITTIDAE.