Pitta - Description

Description

The pittas are small to medium sized passerines, ranging in size from the Blue-banded Pitta at 15 cm (5.9 in) to the Giant Pitta, which can be up to 29 cm (11 in) in length. In weight they range from 42–210 g (1.5–7.4 oz). Pittas are stout bodied birds with long, strong tarsi (lower leg bones) and long feet. There is considerable variation in the colour of the legs and feet, this may be used by females in judging the quality of males. The wings have ten primaries are generally rounded and short Those of the four migratory species, however, are more pointed. Although pittas are behaviourally reluctant to fly, they are capable and even strong fliers. The tails range from being short to very short, and is composed of twelve feathers.

Atypically for forest floor species, the plumage of pittas is often bright and colourful. Only one species, the Eared Pitta, has entirely cryptic colours in the adults of both sexes. In the same genus, Hydrornis, as the Eared Pitta are three further species with quite drabber than average plumage, the Blue-naped Pitta, Blue-rumped Pitta and Rusty-naped Pitta. Like the other Hydrornis pittas they are sexually dimorphic in their plumage, with the females tending towards being drabber and more cryptic than the males. Across most of the family the brighter colours tend to be on the undersides, with the bright colours on the rump, wings and uppertail coverts being concealable. Being able to conceal bright colours from above is important as most predators approach from above.