Mangrove Pitta

Scientific Name: Pitta megarhyncha
Malay Name: Burung-Pacat Bakau
Chinese Name: 红树八色鸫

Range:
Found from Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Thai-Malay Peninsula to Sumatra.

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 18-21 cm

Identification:
Adult resembles Blue-winged Pitta but bill much longer, crown drabber and more uniform brown almost lacking the black line at the center, underparts slightly duller and has whitish chin.

Similar looking species: Blue-winged Pitta, Fairy Pitta

Habitat: Mangroves.

Behaviour/Ecology:

Local Status: Rare resident on mainland Singapore but uncommon locally at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2016)

Location: Uncommon at the mangroves of Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong and possibly Pulau Semakau. Also sighted at the mangroves of Pasir Ris Park in 2012 and non-mangroves area like Singapore Botanic Gardens and Lower Pierce Reservoir Boardwalk in 2014.

Featured articles:

• What bird is this, and why? (Birding Starter Pack)
• Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)

Mangrove Pitta at Pulau Ubin. Photo credit: Francis Yap

Mangrove Pitta at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Mangrove Pitta at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: Alan Ng.

Mangrove Pitta at Pasir Ris Park. Photo Credit: Francis Yap

Mangrove Pitta at Pulau Ubin. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai.