What is "mesite"

n. Any of three species of bird in the family Mesitornithidae endemic to Madagascar.

The mesites (Mesitornithidae) are a family of birds that are part of a clade ( Columbimorphae) that include Columbiformes and Pterocliformes. They are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar. They are the only family with more than two species in which every species is threatened (all three are listed as vulnerable).