The three species of mesites (Mesitornithidae) are smallish, near flightless birds endemic to Madagascar.

The affibities of mesites are uncertain but they are thought to be a sister group of the doves, somewhat more distantly related to the sandgrouse, tropicbirds, grebes, and flamingos.
They are forest and scrubland birds which feed on insects and seeds. The Brown and White-breasted Mesites forage on the ground, gleaning insects from the leaves and under them, as well as low vegetation. The Subdesert Mesite uses its long bill to probe in the soil.