mangrove pitta
{{Short description|Species of bird}}
{{speciesbox
| name = Mangrove pitta
| image = Pitta megarhyncha 1 - Singapore.jpg
| image_caption = Mangrove pitta in Singapore
| status = NT
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = {{sfn|Sen|Zöckler|Singal|Jayadevan|2016|p=1—4}}
| genus = Pitta
| species = megarhyncha
| authority = Schlegel, 1863
| synonyms = Austropitta, Brachyurus, Calopitta, Cervinipitta, Citta, Coloburis, Cyanopitta, Galeripitta, Melanopitta, Merula, Pulchripitta
}}
The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) is a species of passerine bird in the family Pittidae native to the eastern Indian Subcontinent and western Southeast Asia. It is part of a superspecies where it is placed with the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta and the blue-winged pitta but has no recognized subspecies. A colourful bird, it has a black head with brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff underparts and reddish vent area. Its range extends from India to Malaysia and Indonesia. It is found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects. Its call, sometimes rendered as wieuw-wieuw, is sung from a high perch on a mangrove tree.
Taxonomy
The mangrove pitta was first described by German ornithologist Hermann Schlegel in 1863.{{sfn|Sen|Zöckler|Singal|Jayadevan|2016|p=1—4}} Its species name is derived from the Ancient Greek words mega- "large", and rhynchos "beak". It forms a superspecies with the Indian pitta (P. brachyura), fairy pitta (P. nympha) and blue-winged pitta (P. moluccensis). Alternate common names include: Larger blue-winged/Malay pitta, Brève des palétuviers (in French), Große Blauflügelpitta (in German), and Pita de Manglar (in Spanish).{{sfn|Hoyo|1992|p=158}} There are no recognized subspecies.{{cite web|title=Species overview: Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) |url=https://www.xeno-canto.org/species/Pitta-megarhyncha | publisher=Xeno-Canto Asia|access-date=4 June 2011}}
Description
Measuring {{convert|180|to(-)|210|mm|in|abbr=on}} in length, the mangrove pitta has a black head with a buff-coloured crown, white chin and buff underparts. The shoulders and mantle are greenish and the vent is reddish. Juveniles have similar patterned plumage but are duller. It resembles the blue-winged pitta but can be distinguished by its much heavier bill.{{sfn|Robson|2005|p=76}} Its call, transcribed as wieuw-wieuw has been noted to be "more slurred" than the blue-winged pitta.{{sfn|Robson|2005|p=76}}
Distribution and habitat
The mangrove pitta is native to the countries of: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand (primarily the west coast of the southern Thai peninsula).{{cite web|title=Mangrove Pitta Pitta megarhyncha
|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=4020| publisher=BirdLife International|access-date=4 June 2011}}
{{sfn|Sen|Zöckler|Singal|Jayadevan|2016|p=1—4}}{{cite web|title=Pittas of Thailand|url=http://www.thaibirding.com/features/pittas.htm| publisher=Thai Birding|access-date=4 June 2011}} Its natural habitat is specialised and restriction to subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and Nipa palm stands.{{sfn|Lok|Khor|Lim|Subaraj|2009|p=158}} It is threatened by habitat loss. Its diet consists of crustaceans, mollusks and terrestrial insects.{{sfn|Sen|Zöckler|Singal|Jayadevan|2016|p=1—4}}{{sfn|Lok|Khor|Lim|Subaraj|2009|p=158,162}}
Behaviour
File:Mangrove Pitta.jpg, Odisha, India]]
While all pittas are noted for being difficult to study and spot in the wild, the mangrove pitta is one of the easier ones to spot as it sits high up in mangrove trees and calls. A tape recording of its call will often bring it forth.{{sfn|Strange|2000|p=219}} It tends to be vocal while brooding but quiet at other times.{{sfn|Lok|Khor|Lim|Subaraj|2009|p=158}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Hoyo |first=Josep del |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/861071869 |title=Handbook of the Birds of the World |date=1992 |publisher=Lynx Edicions |isbn=84-87334-10-5 |location=Barcelona|oclc=861071869 }}
- {{cite book |title=Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia |last=Strange |first=Morten |author-link=Morten Strange|year=2000 |publisher=Periplus |location=Singapore |isbn=962-593-403-0}}
- {{cite book |last= Robson|first=Craig |title=New Holland field guide to the birds of South-East Asia|publisher=New Holland Publishers|location=Kenthurst, New South Wales|year=2005|isbn=1-84330-746-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K_jhvAEACAAJ}}
- {{cite journal |last1=Lok |first1=A. |last2=Khor |first2=K. T. N. |last3=Lim |first3=K. C. |last4=Subaraj |first4=R. |last5=Cengai |first5=Lorong |date=2009 |title=Pittas (Pittidae) of Singapore |url=https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/app/uploads/2017/06/2009nis155-165.pdf |department=Department of Biological Sciences |journal=Nature in Singapore |location=Singapore |publisher=National University of Singapore |publication-date=2009-04-01 |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=155–165}}
- {{cite iucn |last=Sen |first=S. |last2=Zöckler |first2=C. |last3=Singal |first3=R. |last4=Jayadevan |first4=P. |date=2016 |orig-year=2016 |title=Pitta megarhyncha. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 |doi=10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-3.rlts.t22698691a93697903.en}}
{{refend}}
Further reading
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last=Schlegel |first=Hermann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_laAAAAQAAJ |title=De vogels van Nederlandsch Indiē |date=1863 |publisher=A.C. Kruseman |location=Haarlem |language=nl |trans-title=The birds of Dutch Indiē }}
{{refend}}
External links
{{Commons category|Pitta megarhyncha}}
{{Wikispecies|Pitta megarhyncha}}
- [http://www.google.com/search?q=Pitta+megarhyncha&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=Pitta+megarhyncha&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&ei=FjLqTa-SO6Xe0QH6qZGNAQ&start=20&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=a91b69f6bd0a7737&biw=1259&bih=562 Mangrove pitta bibliography]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20111205020432/http://www.pittasworld.com/Site/Pitta_Maps.html Pitta distribution maps, all species]
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Category:Birds of the Malay Peninsula
Category:Articles containing video clips