Graceful pitta

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Graceful pitta
Graceful Pitta 0A2A8564.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pittidae
Genus: Erythropitta
Species:
E. venusta
Binomial name
Erythropitta venusta
(Müller, S, 1836)
Synonyms
  • Pitta venusta

The graceful pitta (Erythropitta venusta), sometimes alternatively known as the black-crowned pitta (although this term is more regularly applied to E. ussheri), is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It occurs in Sumatra in Indonesia, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Contents

Taxonomy

The graceful pitta was formally described in 1836 by the German naturalist Salomon Müller under the binomial name Pitta venusta. His specimens had been collected in western Sumatra. [2] [3] The specific epithet is from Latin venustus meaning "beautiful" or "lovely". [4] The graceful pitta is now one of 15 species placed in the genus Erythropitta that was introduced in 1854 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. [5]

Description

The graceful pitta is a petite bird that measures approximately 18 cm (7.1 in) in length. Its black coloring is enhanced with reddish undertones, and the bottom of its wings have vivid blue stripes running down them. The lower breast and abdomen are a dull crimson.  The upper chest is dark brown with a purple hue. The legs can appear to be either a purple-blue or a pale blue, and its iris is a dark brown color. The bill is black. The extended tail has reddish-black hues. Males and females are similar in appearance. [6] Juveniles have an all dark brown exterior with less color variation throughout the body. They also have pinkish-grey feet, a red tipped bill, and grayish colored irises. [6]

The call has been described as a high pitched train whistle which remains at a consistent pitch. [7]

Distribution and habitat

The graceful pitta is a native of the Indonesian Sumatra's highlands. [8] The Sumatra highlands consist of thick tropical forest with various species of plants, animals, and insects. It inhabits dense, moist woods with a thick understory of plants. But the habitat is decreasing rapidly due to deforestation. This has increased due to the demand for palm oil with Indonesia being the largest producer of it. [9]

Behaviour

The graceful pitta flies close to the ground. Primarily in residential levels through the trees. [6]

Breeding

Only one nesting has been recorded for graceful pittas which took place in May. But according to research, breeding can take place from May to July, and possibly as early as from February to October. The birds construct their nests that typically are placed around 60 cm above the ground, using materials such as dead leaves, bamboo leaves, fine roots, degraded fibers, and moss. The graceful pitta typically can produce two to three eggs every breeding cycle. Each of the eggs has a distinctive look with a dull white tone and dark brown and gray lilac spots. [6]

Status

The graceful pitta is very rare and is at risk and vulnerable. [8] Although it has been legally protected from hunting since 1931, they still have a primary threat of deforestation to its habitat in Indonesia. [6] This causes their population to steadily decrease as more areas become less occupant/available.

Related Research Articles

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Pittas are a family, Pittidae, of passerine birds found in Asia, Australasia and Africa. There are 44 species of pittas, all similar in general appearance and habits. The pittas are Old World suboscines, and their closest relatives among other birds are in the genera Smithornis and Calyptomena. Initially placed in a single genus, as of 2009 they have been split into three genera: Pitta, Erythropitta and Hydrornis. Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards, at 15 to 25 cm (5.9–9.8 in) in length, and stocky, with strong, longish legs and long feet. They have very short tails and stout, slightly decurved bills. Many have brightly coloured plumage.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Large frogmouth</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-banded pitta</span> Species of bird

The blue-banded pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to the island of Borneo, where it is found in all three countries that share the island: Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine pitta</span> Species of bird

The Philippine pitta or blue-breasted pitta, is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It has a pointed beak and has a red belly with a green blue band above. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It was considered the nominate subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. This species has a wingspan of 20 – 25 cm and is 17.5 – 20 cm tall. In the class Aves it lays eggs and has feathers covering its entire body, it also has wings and can fly. As the illustration on your right shows it has short tail feathers and has a small brown head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garnet pitta</span> Species of bird

The garnet pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. The form occurring in the Malaysian state of Sabah has been split as the black-crowned pitta.

The whiskered pitta 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. It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines.

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue-winged pitta</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue nuthatch</span> Species of small passerine bird

The blue nuthatch is a bird species in the nuthatch family Sittidae. It is a medium-sized nuthatch, measuring 13.5 cm (5.3 in) in length. The species, which shows slight sexual dimorphism, has dramatic coloration unlike any other member of its genus. Its head is black or blackish-blue dark blue upperparts close to purple with azure feathers. The wings are edged with black. The throat and chest are white or a washed buff color, contrasting with the upperparts and the belly of a very dark blue; the covert feathers are generally clear, blue-gray or purplish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The banded woodpecker or the banded red woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical mangrove forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red-headed trogon</span> Species of bird

The red-headed trogon is a species of bird in the family Trogonidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-crowned pitta</span> Species of bird

The black-crowned pitta, also known as the black-headed pitta, black-and-crimson pitta, black-and-scarlet pitta or black-crowned garnet pitta, is a brightly coloured, ground-dwelling, bird species in the pitta family. It is endemic to the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. It was described by John Gould in 1877, with the type locality recorded as the Lawas River in northern Sarawak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulawesi pitta</span> Species of bird

The Sulawesi pitta is a species of pitta. It was considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs in Sulawesi, Manterawu, and Togian Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siau pitta</span> Species of bird

The Siau pitta or Siao pitta is a species of the pitta. It was considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs in Siau and Tagulandang. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sangihe pitta</span> Species of bird

The Sangihe pitta is a species of the pitta. It was considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs in the Sangihe Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The South Moluccan pitta is a species of pitta. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs on Buru and Seram. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Moluccan pitta</span> Species of bird

The North Moluccan pitta is a species of the pitta. It was considered a subspecies of the red-bellied pitta. It is endemic to Indonesia where it occurs on the northern Moluccas. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The Tabar pitta is a species of the pitta bird. It was considered a subspecies of the Bismarck pitta, and some taxonomic authorities still consider it so. It is endemic to the Tabar Group in Papua New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Erythropitta venusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T22698667A93696083. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22698667A93696083.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Müller, Salomon (1836). "Aanteekeningen, over de natuurlijke gesteldheid van een gedeelte der westkust en binnenlanden van Sumatra, met bijvoeging van eenige waarnemingen en beschrijvingen van verscheidene op dit, en andere Sunda-eilanden voorkomende dieren". Tijdschrift voor Natuurlijke Geschiedenis en Physiologie (in Dutch). 2: 315–355 [348].
  3. Traylor, Melvin A. Jr, ed. (1979). Check-list of Birds of the World. Vol. 8. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Museum of Comparative Zoology. p. 320.
  4. Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 400. ISBN   978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2023). "NZ wrens, broadbills & pittas". IOC World Bird List Version 13.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Erritzoe, Johannes (2020). "Graceful Pitta (Erythropitta venusta), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.blcpit1.01. ISSN   2771-3105. S2CID   216307874.
  7. "Graceful Pitta - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
  8. 1 2 "Graceful Pitta".
  9. "Indonesian Forests & Palm Oil - Greenpeace USA". 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2023-10-19.