Western Hooded Pitta

Western Hooded Pitta

Scientific Name: Pitta sordida

Malay Name: Burung-Pacat Hijau

Chinese Name: 绿胸八色鸫

Range: Found from northern Indian subcontinent to southern China and Southeast Asia with some northern populations wintering south to Indochina, the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Java.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: cucullata, mulleri, bangkana, sordida, palawanensis, sanghirana.

Local Subspecies: cucullata

Size: 16.5-19 cm

Identification: Adult has black head with dark brown crown, green body and red vent. Juvenile has brownish overall plumage and whitish throat.

Habitat: Parks, gardens, forests and wooded areas.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Any suitable patch of habitat like Singapore Botanic Gardens, former Bidadari Cemetery, Central Catchment Forest and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Western Hooded Pitta Pitta sordida
Estimated average number of individuals by week based on eBird data, Jul 2014 to Jun 2024
Peak weeks Jan 15-Jan 21, Mar 12-Mar 18, Dec 03-Dec 09 (1 more)
Early date 29 Oct 2006
Late date 15 May 2017
A normally shy ground-dweller preferring shaded areas of forests and occasionally parks and gardens. One recent popular bird was surprisingly seen in an HDB estate!

References:

BirdLife International. (2016). Pitta sordida. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T103656903A93693998.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Lim, K. S. (2009). The Avifauna of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore).

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

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