About the Blue-winged Pitta
The blue-winged pitta is a passerine bird in the family Pittidae. It forms a superspecies with three other pittas, the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta and the mangrove pitta. A colourful bird, it has a black head with a buff stripe above the eye, a white collar, greenish upper parts, blue wings, buff underparts and a reddish vent area. Its range extends from India to Malaysia, Indonesia, southern China and the Philippines. Its habitat is moist woodland, parks and gardens and it avoids dense forest. It feeds mainly on insects and worms. It breeds in the spring, building an untidy spherical nest on the ground, often near water and between tree roots. A clutch of about five eggs is laid and…
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Measuring 180 to 205 mm (7.1–8.1 in) in length, the blue-winged pitta has a black head with a buff-coloured supercilium, white chin and buff underparts. The shoulders and mantle are greenish, the wings are bright blue, and the vent is reddish. The bill is black, eyes are brown and the legs pale pink. It has a very short tail. Juveniles have similar patterned plumage but are duller. It resembles the mangrove pitta but can be distinguished by its shorter bill. The loud call has been transcribed as taew-laew taew-laew.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
What the Blue-winged Pitta sounds like
Where the Blue-winged Pitta lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Australia, India, Hong Kong SAR China.
When to see the Blue-winged Pitta
Peak activity in May · a summer visitor species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Western Hooded PittaPitta sordidaThe western hooded pitta is a passerine bird in the family Pittidae.
Rainbow PittaPitta irisThe rainbow pitta is 16 to 18 cm (6.3–7.1 in) in length, and weighs 52–88 g (1.8–3.1 oz).
Mangrove PittaPitta megarhynchaMeasuring 180 to 210 mm (7.1–8.3 in) in length, the mangrove pitta has a black head with a buff-coloured crown, white chin and buff underparts.
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