Philippine pitta

Last updated

Philippine pitta
Philippine Pitta - Luzon - Philippines H8O8963 (16302644044).jpg
An adult of the nominate subspecies
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pittidae
Genus: Erythropitta
Species:
E. erythrogaster
Binomial name
Erythropitta erythrogaster
(Temminck, 1823)
Synonyms
  • Pitta erythrogaster

The Philippine pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) or blue-breasted pitta, is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is a striking and colorful with a red belly, black throat, a brown head, a blue chest, rump and tail. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is part of the Red-bellied pitta species complex.

Contents

Description and taxonomy

A 1979 Philippine stamp featuring the Whiskered pitta and Philippine pitta Pitta kochi and Pitta erythrogaster 1979 stamp of the Philippines.jpg
A 1979 Philippine stamp featuring the Whiskered pitta and Philippine pitta

EBird describes the bird as "A plump, short-tailed, long-legged terrestrial bird with a red belly, a black throat, a blue chest band, and a ruddy-colored head. Juvenile is dull brown with blue in rump and tail and a horn-colored bill with a pale tip and base. Singles or pairs inhabit forest, degraded patches, and bamboo thickets in lowlands and hills. Differs from Whiskered Pitta in smaller size, black throat, lack of a pale whisker, and more extensive ruddy head coloration. Song is a two-part quivering whistle, the first part rising, the second mournfully descending: “waaaaaaopop-aaaaawwwwwow.” Also gives a piercing “whit” alarm call." [2]

It is part of the Red-bellied pitta species complex which includes a total of 9 different pitta species and is continuing to be further split with a potential to reach 17 total species. It is differentiated by its all cobalt-blue upperparts and breast-sides, plain dark brown crown versus paler brown crown with dark brown lateral stripes, much reduced or no white in centre of black throat, stronger red belly, longer bill, and distinctly shorter wings.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:

Ecology and behavior

A juvenile of the nominate subspecies Juvenile Philippine Pitta.jpg
A juvenile of the nominate subspecies

Forages on the forest floor by gleaning the leaf litter in search for worms and other small insects. Recorded to breed throughout the year, [3]

Habitat and conservation status

This species habitat is primary, secondary forest, scrub, forest edge, thickets and bamboo groves up to 2,100 meters above sea level. This species is adapatable to multiple forest types and can tolerate more disturbed habitat.

IUCN has assessed this bird as least-concern species with the population believed to be declining due to deforestation in the Philippines continues throughout the country due to slash and burn farming, mining, illegal logging and habitat conversion. It is also occasionally caught for the pet trade or for bushmeat.

It is found in multiple protected areas such as Bicol Natural Park, Pasonanca Natural Park, Rajah Sikatuna Protected Landscape, Samar Island Natural Park but like all areas in the Philippines, protection is lax and deforestation continues despite this protection on paper. [4]

Related Research Articles

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

The blue-headed fantail is a fantail endemic to the northern Philippines where it is found on the islands of Luzon and Catanduanes. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the Tablas fantail and Visayan fantail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-chinned fruit dove</span> Species of bird

The black-chinned fruit dove, also known as the black-throated fruit dove or Leclancher's dove. It is found in the lowland forests of the Philippines and Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan hornbill</span> Species of bird

The Palawan hornbill is a large forest bird endemic to the Philippines. It is one of the 11 endemic hornbills in the country. It is only found in Palawan and nearby islands of Balabac, Busuanga, Calauit, Culion and Coron. It is locally known as "talusi" in the language Cuyunon. It is threatened by habitat loss, hunting and trapping for the cage-bird trade.

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

The Philippine bush warbler, also known as the Luzon bush warbler, is a species of bird in the family Cettiidae. It was formerly conspecific with the Japanese bush warbler. It is found only in the Philippines in the Cordillera Mountain Range of northern Luzon. It is found in tropical montane forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-backed tailorbird</span> Species of bird

The gray-backed tailorbird is a species of bird formerly placed in the "Old World warbler" assemblage, it but now placed in the family Cisticolidae. It is native to the Philippine islands of Palawan, Luzon and Catanduanes.

The Tawitawi brown dove, also dark-eared brown dove, is a threatened species of bird in the family Columbidae noted for its orange-peach breast. It is endemic to forests in the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. Until recently it was considered conspecific with the Mindanao brown dove and collectively called the dark-eared brown dove. Although threatened by habitat loss, the rate of loss significantly reduced from 2004 to 2007, and it was thus downlisted from Critically Endangered to Endangered status in the 2007 IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern silvery kingfisher</span> Species of bird

The southern silvery kingfisher is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the Philippines found in Mindanao and Basilan. This species and the northern silvery kingfisher, found in the Visayas, were formerly considered conspecific and called the silvery kingfisher.Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, streams and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan blue flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The Palawan blue flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only on Palawan and its surrounding islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan flycatcher</span> Species of bird

The Palawan flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is endemic to the Philippines found only in the region of Palawan. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melodious babbler</span> Species of bird

The melodious babbler is a species of bird in the family Pellorneidae. It is endemic to the Philippines and found only on Palawan and Balabac.

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

The whiskered pitta is a rare species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines. Along with the, Azure-breasted pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country.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.

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

The azure-breasted pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is a striking and colorful bird having colors of red, azure, green, black and white, It is endemic to the islands of Mindanao, Bohol, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines. Along with the Whiskered pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy-fronted bulbul</span> Species of bird

The ashy-fronted bulbul is a member of the bulbul family of passerine birds. It is endemic to Palawan in the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forests. Until 2010, the ashy-fronted bulbul was considered as a subspecies of the olive-winged bulbul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palawan bulbul</span> Species of songbird

The Palawan bulbul or grey-throated bulbul is a species of songbird in the family Pycnonotidae. It is endemic to Palawan Island in the Philippines. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and tropical moist montane forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale spiderhunter</span> Species of bird

The pale spiderhunter is a species of bird in the family Nectariniidae. It is found in Palawan. It was originally considered a subspecies of the little spiderhunter. They are predominantly grayish in color, with olive-green wings, and a pale yellow belly.

The spot-throated flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is endemic to the Philippines only being found in the province of Palawan in the islands of Balabac, Busuanga and Calamian and mainland Palawan.. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the common flameback.It is found in moist lowland forests including primary, secondary and even plantations and clearings provided there are still standing trees. It is threatened by habitat loss.

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

The red-headed flameback is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is endemic to the Philippines only being found in the region of Palawan in the islands of Balabac, mainland Palawan, Busuanga and Calamian. It is one of the most spectacular flamebacks with its bright red head and yellow-green back. It is sometimes considered a subspecies of the greater flameback. It is found in moist lowland forests including primary, secondary and even plantations and clearings provided there are still standing trees. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tablas fantail</span> Species of bird

The Tablas fantail is a fantail endemic to the Philippines on Tablas Island. Until recently, it was considered conspecific with the blue-headed fantail and Visayan fantail. It is threatened by habitat loss.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulu boobook</span> Species of owl

The Sulu boobook or Sulu hawk-owl is a species of owl in the family Strigidae. It is endemic to the Sulu Archipelago in the Philippines. It was previously known as a subspecies of the Philippine hawk-owl, but was reclassified in 2012, as voice and other evidence suggested it was a distinct species. It is found in tropical moist lowland forest. It is threatened by habitat loss.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2016). "Erythropitta erythrogaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T103656341A93695428. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103656341A93695428.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. "Philippine Pitta - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2024-09-09.
  3. 1 2 Kirwan, Guy M.; Erritzoe, Johannes; del Hoyo, Josep; Collar, Nigel; Boesman, Peter F. D. (2022). "Philippine Pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster), version 2.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.rebpit1.02species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN   2771-3105.
  4. IUCN (2016-10-01). Erythropitta erythrogaster: BirdLife International: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T103656341A93695428 (Report). International Union for Conservation of Nature. doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t103656341a93695428.en.

Detailed review on Accessed December 18, 2016.