Animalia Life
Pitta brachyura
TAXONOMY
Corvus brachyurus Linneaus, 1776, Sri Lanka.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Bengal pitta; French: Brиve du Bengale; German: Neunfarbenpitta;
Spanish: Pita de Alas Azules.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
5.9–7.5 in (15–19 cm); 1.7–2.3 oz (47–66 g). Black mask
through eyes with white and brown stripe above. Buffy under
bill to yellow at breast and red under tail. Back and wings
green; black tail with blue tip; blue, black and white bands on
wings.
DISTRIBUTION
Breeds in Pakistan, Himachal Pradesh, southern Nepal, southern
Sikkim, wet areas of Rjasthan, Kanara, and Bangladesh; and central
India; nonbreeding migrant in southern India and Sri Lanka.
HABITAT
Breeds in understory of evergreen and deciduous forest, often
near ravines with dense brush or bamboo; nonbreeding migrants
use forested areas, including small fragments and
wooded gardens; from sea level up to 5,600 ft (1,700 m).
BEHAVIOR
Primarily terrestrial, occurring alone or in pairs. During breeding,
males defend territories by calling, often in conjunction
with tail bobbing and moving the head forward and backward.
When rival males are encountered, territorial males often extend
their wings, flashing the white patches at the base of the
primaries. Males also defend territories during nonbreeding
season, and chase out intruding males.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeds by foraging for invertebrates in the leaf-litter of the forest
floor and digging for earthworms with their bill. Food
items include ants, termites, insect larvae, slugs, snails, millipedes,
and earthworms.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds May to August. Nest located on the ground or low in a
small tree. Constructed from leaves, grass, twigs, and moss,
and lined with grass and bamboo or tamarisk leaves. Clutch
size usually four to five. Eggs glossy white, sometimes pinkish,
with purplish or black spots and specks over dull lavender and
purple markings, most numerous on widest end. Nest construction
probably primarily by female.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not threatened; still common throughout much of range, despite
HABITAT
loss and trapping during migration.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Trapped during migration for use as food, especially along the
southern coast of India.
Photo Gallery of - Indian pitta
