About the Mangrove Pitta
The mangrove pitta is a species of passerine bird in the family Pittidae native to the eastern Indian subcontinent and western Southeast Asia. It is part of a superspecies where it is placed with the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta and the blue-winged pitta but has no recognized subspecies. A colourful bird, it has a black head with brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff underparts and reddish vent area. Its range extends from India to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects. Its call, sometimes rendered as wieuw-wieuw, is sung from a high perch on a mangrove tree.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Measuring 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. The shoulders and mantle are greenish and the vent is reddish. Juveniles have similar patterned plumage but are duller. It resembles the blue-winged pitta but can be distinguished by its much heavier bill. Its call, transcribed as wieuw-wieuw has been noted to be "more slurred" than the blue-winged pitta.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in March · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Eastern Hooded PittaPitta novaeguineaeThe eastern hooded pitta is a passerine bird in the pitta family Pittidae that is endemic to New Guinea and some of the small neighbouring islands.
Fairy PittaPitta nymphaThe fairy pitta has a body length of 16–19.5 cm (6.3–7.7 in) and is easily discernible for its plumage of seven different colors reminiscent of a rainbow.
Ornate PittaPitta concinnaThe ornate pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae.
Learn the Mangrove Pitta for real
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