Blue-winged Pitta — Gavin · CC0_1_0 via GBIF

Blue-winged Pitta

Pitta moluccensis

蓝翅八色鸫

IUCN: Least Concern China: Level II Found in China

Introduction

A passerine bird in the family Pittidae. Range extends from India through Southeast Asia to Indonesia, southern China, and the Philippines. Inhabits moist woodland, parks, and gardens, avoiding dense forest. Characterized by brightly colored plumage with blue wings, greenish upperparts, and a distinctive black head with buff supercilium. Feeds primarily on insects and worms taken on the ground. Breeds in spring, building an untidy spherical nest on the ground near water.

Description

A small colorful passerine measuring 180-205 mm in length. The head is black with a buff-coloured supercilium, and the chin is white. The shoulders and mantle are greenish, while the wings are bright blue. Underparts are buff-coloured with a reddish vent area. The bill is black, eyes are brown, and legs are pale pink. The tail is very short. Juveniles have similar plumage patterns but are duller overall. The species closely resembles the mangrove pitta but can be distinguished by its shorter bill.

Identification

Distinguished from the similar mangrove pitta by its notably shorter bill. The bright blue wings are a key field mark, along with the black head with buff supercilium and white collar. The species gives a loud, distinctive call transcribed as 'taew-laew taew-laew'.

Distribution & Habitat

Resident and visitor across Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. A winter visitor to Borneo and Sumatra. Vagrant to Australia, Christmas Island, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Inhabits lowland subtropical and tropical forests up to 800 m altitude, including broadleaved forests, parks, gardens, and mangroves. Avoids dense rainforest.

Behavior & Ecology

Forages on the ground or from low branches and perches, feeding mainly on worms, insects, and hard-shelled snails. Breeding season in peninsular Malaysia runs from early May to late July. Builds a large, spherical, untidy nest on the ground using twigs, roots, grasses, leaves, and mosses, with a side entrance. Nest is typically situated between tree roots near water. Female lays 4-6 white or cream-coloured eggs with purple markings. Both parents share incubation duties for 15-17 days.

Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0

Taxonomy

Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pittidae
Genus: Pitta
eBird Code: blwpit1

Distribution

breeds southeastern Asia from southeastern Myanmar and southern Yunnan (southwestern China) eastward to Vietnam and southward to northern Malayan Peninsula; winters to Greater Sundas