Malayan banded pitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Malayan banded pitta |
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| In Si Phang Nga National Park, Thailand | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hydrornis
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| Species: |
irena
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| Synonyms | |
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The Malayan banded pitta (Hydrornis irena) is a super colorful bird. It's part of the Pittidae bird family. People also call it the blue-tailed pitta or Irene's pitta. You can find this amazing bird in places like Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra. It used to be thought of as the same bird as the Bornean and Javan banded pittas. But now, scientists know they are different species.
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Meet the Malayan Banded Pitta
This section will tell you all about the Malayan banded pitta. You will learn what it looks like. You will also find out where it lives and what it eats.
What Does This Bird Look Like?
The Malayan banded pitta is a very bright and colorful bird. It has a black head. There is a yellow or orange stripe above its eye. Its neck, called the nape, is orange-red. The throat is a bright lemon-yellow. Its chest has stripes of orange and dark blue. The orange is more on the sides. The blue is more in the middle. Its belly is blue. The back of the bird is brown. Its tail is a pretty blue color.
Where Does the Malayan Banded Pitta Live?
The Malayan banded pitta lives in warm, tropical parts of south-eastern Asia. You can find it in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra. It usually lives in thick, old lowland forests. These can include swamp forests. Sometimes, it can live in higher places, up to about 1,500 meters (about 4,900 feet) high. It can also live in newer forests that have grown back. However, it might not do as well in these areas.
What Does the Malayan Banded Pitta Eat?
This bird's diet is mostly insects. It also enjoys eating different kinds of fruit.
Why Is This Bird "Near Threatened"?
The Malayan banded pitta is common in some areas. But it is hard to find in other places. This is because its forest home is being cut down. People cut trees for wood. They also clear land for farms. In Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia, a lot of the old forests are gone. This makes the bird uncommon there.
This bird is also caught and sold illegally. People want them as pet birds in cages. Because of these problems, the number of Malayan banded pittas is going down. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says this bird is "near threatened". This means it could become endangered soon if we don't protect it.
