The whiskered pitta (Erythropitta kochi) is a rare species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines. This bird is the largest pitta in the country reaching 23 cm long and 116 g in mass. It has a brownish head, blue breast, and red belly. It has broad ash malar or "whiskers". Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping.[3] It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines.[4]
An illustration of a Whiskered Pitta by Joseph Smit.
EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of lower-elevation montane forest floor and undergrowth on Luzon. Prefers thick undergrowth with moss, ferns, and a steep slope. Brown on the back and sides with a red belly, a blue chest, tail, and edge of the wing, rufous on the back of the head, a dark face with a pale moustache, and a pale line behind the eye. Very similar to Blue-breasted Pitta, but Whiskered usually occurs at higher elevations, has an obvious whisker on the face, and has a brown rather than green back. Song is a long, mournful downslurred note followed by several shorter ones, “doooo doo-doo-doo-doo!”."[5]
Habitat and conservation statusedit
It chiefly inhabits montane forest, tolerating degraded and selectively logged areas. Records span a wide altitudinal range of 360 to 2,200 m. However, the highest densities found at 900-1,500 m where it typically breeds. It appears to prefer closed-canopy, primary montane, oak dominated forest, frequently on steep slopes. Its movements are poorly understood. Records from south Luzon (which may refer to wintering individuals) suggest that there is some intra-island migration..[6]
IUCN has assessed this bird as near threatened with estimates being at 10,000 to 19,999 mature individuals. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. It is also threatened by hunting in snare traps.
^BirdLife International (2016). "Erythropitta kochi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22698648A93695101. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22698648A93695101.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
^Wild Bird Club of the Philippines. "Whiskered Pitta, the Philippines' rarest endemic pitta, has been recently discovered thriving in Mt. Banahaw!". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
^Allen, Desmond (2020). Birds of the Philippines. Barcelona: Lynx and Birdlife Guides International. pp. 232–233.
January 01, 1970
whiskered, pitta, whiskered, pitta, erythropitta, kochi, rare, species, bird, family, pittidae, endemic, luzon, philippines, this, bird, largest, pitta, country, reaching, long, mass, brownish, head, blue, breast, belly, broad, malar, whiskers, natural, habita. The whiskered pitta Erythropitta kochi is a rare species of bird in the family Pittidae It is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines This bird is the largest pitta in the country reaching 23 cm long and 116 g in mass It has a brownish head blue breast and red belly It has broad ash malar or whiskers Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping 3 It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines 4 Whiskered pitta Conservation status Near Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix I CITES 2 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Passeriformes Family Pittidae Genus Erythropitta Species E kochi Binomial name Erythropitta kochi Bruggemann 1876 Synonyms Pitta kochi Bruggemann 1876Description edit nbsp An illustration of a Whiskered Pitta by Joseph Smit EBird describes the bird as A medium sized bird of lower elevation montane forest floor and undergrowth on Luzon Prefers thick undergrowth with moss ferns and a steep slope Brown on the back and sides with a red belly a blue chest tail and edge of the wing rufous on the back of the head a dark face with a pale moustache and a pale line behind the eye Very similar to Blue breasted Pitta but Whiskered usually occurs at higher elevations has an obvious whisker on the face and has a brown rather than green back Song is a long mournful downslurred note followed by several shorter ones doooo doo doo doo doo 5 Habitat and conservation status editIt chiefly inhabits montane forest tolerating degraded and selectively logged areas Records span a wide altitudinal range of 360 to 2 200 m However the highest densities found at 900 1 500 m where it typically breeds It appears to prefer closed canopy primary montane oak dominated forest frequently on steep slopes Its movements are poorly understood Records from south Luzon which may refer to wintering individuals suggest that there is some intra island migration 6 IUCN has assessed this bird as near threatened with estimates being at 10 000 to 19 999 mature individuals This species main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range It is also threatened by hunting in snare traps It occurs in a number of protected areas including the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park Mount Pulag Natural Park Mt Isarog and the Maria Aurora National Park however enforcement against loggers and hunters is lax It is also listed as CITES Appendix I References edit BirdLife International 2016 Erythropitta kochi IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22698648A93695101 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22698648A93695101 en Retrieved 12 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 BirdLife Species Factsheet Wild Bird Club of the Philippines Whiskered Pitta the Philippines rarest endemic pitta has been recently discovered thriving in Mt Banahaw www facebook com Retrieved 2021 09 11 Whiskered Pitta Ebird Allen Desmond 2020 Birds of the Philippines Barcelona Lynx and Birdlife Guides International pp 232 233 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Whiskered pitta amp oldid 1177316750, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
