Elegant pitta
| Elegant pitta | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Pittidae |
| Genus: | Pitta |
| Species: | P. elegans |
| Binomial name | |
| Pitta elegans Temminck, 1836 | |
The elegant pitta (Pitta elegans) is a species of bird in the pitta family Pittidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found in the Lesser Sunda Islands and Moluccas.
Taxonomy and subspecies distribution
The elegant pitta has sometimes been treated as a subspecies of the Indian pitta, noisy pitta or blue-winged pitta. It has a number of described subspecies.
- Pitta elegans elegans Temminck, 1836
- P. e. maria E. J. O. Hartert, 1896
- P. e. vigorsii E. J. O. Hartert, 1896
- P. e. concinna Gould, 1857
- P. e. vigorsii Gould, 1838
The subspecies P. e. vigorsii is sometimes considered to be a full species, the white-chinned pitta. Four other subspecies have been described but are now lumped in the preceding subspecies.[2]
Distribution and habitat
It is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands and Moluccas in Indonesia. It is reported as also being found in East Timor by some authors,[1] but the species has only been recorded on the western half of the island, in spite of suitable habitat.[3] Its natural habitats are tropical dry forests and tropical moist lowland forests.[2]
The nominate race is found in Timor, Semau, and Kisar. P. e. maria is found on Sumba, and P. e. concinna is found on Flores, Lombok and nearby islands. P. e. virginalis is found on Tanahjampea, Kalao and Kalaotoa, to the south of Sulawesi, and P. e. vigorsii ranges across Banda, Kasiui, Kur, Tiur, Kai Islands, Damar, and Babar. [2]
Description
The elegant pitta is 19 cm (7.5 in) long and weighs 47–77 g (1.7–2.7 oz). It has a black head, throat, chin and neck with a buff crown stripe. The upperparts are dark green, as are most of the wings, which also have a bright turquoise patch on the lesser coverts. The rump is turquoise-blue and the tail is black with a green tip. The underparts are mostly warm buff, with the centre black with a red patch below. Both sexes are similar.[2]
References
- 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Pitta elegans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Eritzoe, J.; de Juana, E. (2018). del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David A.; de Juana, Eduardo, eds. "Elegant Pitta (Pitta elegans)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Barcelona, Spain: Lynx Edicions. Retrieved 28 August 2018. (Subscription required (help)).
- ↑ Trainor, Dr Colin; Santana, F; Pinto, P; F Xavier, A; Safford, R; Grimmett, R (2008). "Birds, birding and conservation in Timor-Leste". BirdingASIA. 9: 16–45.