The blue pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus) is a species of bird in the family Pittidae found in the northeastern Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina. It typically lives in moist forests but can also inhabit dry forest. It is an unobtrusive, solitary bird which feeds by foraging on the ground for insects and other small invertebrates.
Pittas are medium-sized, stocky passerine birds with long legs and short tails. The blue pitta grows to a length of about 23 cm (9 in). It has a yellow forehead and crown and a bright orange nape. A bold black stripe passes through the eye and there is a less well-defined, short stripe on the chin. The male has a blue back and tail and a pale bluish breast, speckled with black. The female has a grey back and a pale grey breast, speckled with black. The bill is dark grey and the legs are pale pink. The call is a long, drawn-out "pleoow-whit" or "choocoo-whip", ending suddenly.[2][3]
Distribution and habitatedit
There are three subspecies: H. c. cyaneus occurs in northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, northern Laos, Vietnam, southern Thailand and southern China; H. c. aurantiacus occurs in eastern Thailand and southwestern Cambodia; H. c. willoughbyi occurs in central Laos and southern Vietnam. The bird's altitudinal range is from sea level up to about 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It is a forest bird, typical habitat being lowland and montane moist evergreen forest with bamboos, often near streams and in ravines, but it also occurs in drier tropical forests.[3]
Ecologyedit
Like other members of their genus, blue pittas are shy, secretive birds and usually occur singly, even juveniles foraging alone except when being visited by their parents; they will however respond to recordings of their call.[4] They are diurnal, which enables them to see their often cryptic prey, but they often forage in darker areas of the forest. They search through plant litter on the forest floor for insects (especially beetles) and their larvae, spiders, snails, worms and grubs, flicking away leaves and probing the ground with their beaks. Breeding takes place in May and June in India and Myanmar, and between June and October in Thailand. The nest is a large, bulky dome-shaped structure with a side entrance, hidden amongst tangled plant growth.[4]
Statusedit
The blue pitta has a very wide range and although scarce in India and China, is common in suitable habitat over much of its range, being particularly abundant on the Bolaven Plateau in Laos. It is present in some protected areas, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydrornis cyaneus.
Wikispecies has information related to Blue pitta.
^ abBirdLife International (2016). "Hydrornis cyaneus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22698617A93692913. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22698617A93692913.en. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
^ abErritzoe, J. (2020). "Blue Pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
blue, pitta, blue, pitta, hydrornis, cyaneus, species, bird, family, pittidae, found, northeastern, indian, subcontinent, southern, china, indochina, typically, lives, moist, forests, also, inhabit, forest, unobtrusive, solitary, bird, which, feeds, foraging, . The blue pitta Hydrornis cyaneus is a species of bird in the family Pittidae found in the northeastern Indian subcontinent southern China and Indochina It typically lives in moist forests but can also inhabit dry forest It is an unobtrusive solitary bird which feeds by foraging on the ground for insects and other small invertebrates Blue pitta Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Pittidae Genus Hydrornis Species H cyaneus Binomial name Hydrornis cyaneus Blyth 1843 Synonyms Pitta cyanea ssp willoughbyi Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Status 5 ReferencesDescription editPittas are medium sized stocky passerine birds with long legs and short tails The blue pitta grows to a length of about 23 cm 9 in It has a yellow forehead and crown and a bright orange nape A bold black stripe passes through the eye and there is a less well defined short stripe on the chin The male has a blue back and tail and a pale bluish breast speckled with black The female has a grey back and a pale grey breast speckled with black The bill is dark grey and the legs are pale pink The call is a long drawn out pleoow whit or choocoo whip ending suddenly 2 3 Distribution and habitat editThere are three subspecies H c cyaneus occurs in northeastern India and eastern Bangladesh Myanmar northern Laos Vietnam southern Thailand and southern China H c aurantiacus occurs in eastern Thailand and southwestern Cambodia H c willoughbyi occurs in central Laos and southern Vietnam The bird s altitudinal range is from sea level up to about 2 000 m 6 600 ft It is a forest bird typical habitat being lowland and montane moist evergreen forest with bamboos often near streams and in ravines but it also occurs in drier tropical forests 3 Ecology editLike other members of their genus blue pittas are shy secretive birds and usually occur singly even juveniles foraging alone except when being visited by their parents they will however respond to recordings of their call 4 They are diurnal which enables them to see their often cryptic prey but they often forage in darker areas of the forest They search through plant litter on the forest floor for insects especially beetles and their larvae spiders snails worms and grubs flicking away leaves and probing the ground with their beaks Breeding takes place in May and June in India and Myanmar and between June and October in Thailand The nest is a large bulky dome shaped structure with a side entrance hidden amongst tangled plant growth 4 Status editThe blue pitta has a very wide range and although scarce in India and China is common in suitable habitat over much of its range being particularly abundant on the Bolaven Plateau in Laos It is present in some protected areas and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of least concern 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydrornis cyaneus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Blue pitta a b BirdLife International 2016 Hydrornis cyaneus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22698617A93692913 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22698617A93692913 en Retrieved 14 November 2021 Blue pitta Hydrornis cyaneus Breve bleue Oiseaux net Retrieved 21 January 2020 a b Erritzoe J 2020 Blue Pitta Hydrornis cyaneus Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona Retrieved 21 January 2020 a b Erritzoe J 2003 Family Pittidae Pittas In Josep del Hoyo Andrew Elliott David Christie eds Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 8 Broadbills to Tapaculos Barcelona Lynx Edicions pp 106 127 ISBN 978 84 87334 50 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue pitta amp oldid 1216143313, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
