Blue-winged Pitta

Blue-winged Pitta

Scientific Name: Pitta moluccensis

Malay Name: Burung-Pacat Sayap Biru

Chinese Name: 蓝翅八色鸫

Range: Breeding range extends from southwestern China, Indochina to the Thai-Malay Peninsula with some northern populations wintering in Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula and Indonesia.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 18-20.5 cm

Identification: Adult has blackish head with buff crown-sides/supercilium, black eyestripe, white throat with a small blackish chin patch just below the bill, green upperparts, violet-blue upperwing coverts and plain buff underparts with red vent. Juvenile resembles adult but has duller overall plumage.

Similar looking species: Mangrove Pitta, Fairy Pitta

Habitat: Parks, gardens, forests, wooded areas and mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Common migrant and common resident

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Any suitable patch of habitat like Singapore Botanic Gardens, Chinese Garden, former Bidadari Cemetery, Central Catchment Forest and Pasir Ris Park. Was first documented to breed at Pulau Ubin in July 2016.

Featured articles:

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Blue-winged Pitta Pitta moluccensis
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak week Apr 16-Apr 22
Early date 01 Jul 2017
Late date 30 Jun 2024
A significant population is now present throughout the year, although this wasn't the case until recently. Their loud calls during the breeding season likely explain the higher number of observations during the spring and summer months.
Blue-winged Pitta at Bidadari. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Blue-winged Pitta. Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Blue-winged Pitta. Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Blue-winged Pitta at Macritchie Boardwalk. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Blue-winged Pitta. Photo credit: Solomon Anthony
Blue-winged Pitta at Pasir Ris Park. Photo credit: Francis Yap

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Blue-winged Pitta)

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Pitta moluccensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22698688A93697612.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Blue-winged Pitta. Retrieved on December 2, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/blue-winged-pitta.

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