Mangrove pitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mangrove pitta |
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| Mangrove pitta in Singapore | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pitta
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| Species: |
megarhyncha
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| Synonyms | |
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Austropitta, Brachyurus, Calopitta, Cervinipitta, Citta, Coloburis, Cyanopitta, Galeripitta, Melanopitta, Merula, Pulchripitta |
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The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) is a beautiful and colourful bird. It belongs to a group of birds called passerines, which are often known as "perching birds." You can find this special bird in the eastern parts of the Indian Subcontinent and western Southeast Asia. It's part of a group of very similar birds, including the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta, and the blue-winged pitta.
This pitta has a striking look. It has a black head with a brown cap on top and a white throat. Its back and wings are a lovely greenish colour. The bird's belly is a light buff, and its tail area is reddish. Mangrove pittas live in mangrove and nipa palm forests. Here, they hunt for crustaceans like crabs, mollusks, and insects to eat. Their call, which sounds like wieuw-wieuw, is often heard from high up in the mangrove trees.
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Understanding the Mangrove Pitta's Name
The mangrove pitta was first officially described in 1863 by a German scientist named Hermann Schlegel. He was an ornithologist, which is someone who studies birds. The bird's scientific name, megarhyncha, comes from ancient Greek words. Mega- means "large," and rhynchos means "beak." So, its name basically means "large-beaked pitta."
This bird is part of a group of very similar birds called a "superspecies." This group includes the Indian pitta, the fairy pitta, and the blue-winged pitta. Even though they are similar, the mangrove pitta is its own unique species.
What Does a Mangrove Pitta Look Like?
The mangrove pitta is a medium-sized bird, usually about 18 to 21 centimetres (7 to 8 inches) long. It has a black head with a light brown or buff-coloured cap. Its chin is white, and its belly is a buff colour. The bird's shoulders and back are greenish, and the area under its tail is reddish.
Young mangrove pittas look a lot like the adults, but their colours are not as bright. One easy way to tell a mangrove pitta apart from its close relative, the blue-winged pitta, is by its beak. The mangrove pitta has a much bigger and heavier beak. Its call is also a bit different; it sounds like wieuw-wieuw and is often described as more "slurred" than the blue-winged pitta's call.
Where Do Mangrove Pittas Live?
Mangrove pittas live in several countries across Asia. You can find them in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. They prefer a very specific type of home. Their natural habitat is in subtropical or tropical mangrove forests and areas with Nipa palm trees.
Sadly, the places where these birds live are shrinking. This is called habitat loss, and it's a big problem for the mangrove pitta. In these special forests, they find their food. Their diet mainly includes crustaceans (like crabs), mollusks (like snails), and different kinds of insects that live on land.
How Do Mangrove Pittas Behave?
Pittas are generally known for being quite shy and hard to spot in the wild. However, the mangrove pitta is one of the easier ones to find. This is because it often sits high up in the mangrove trees and calls out. If you play a recording of its call, it might even come closer!
These birds tend to be quite vocal when they are nesting or taking care of their young. But at other times, they are usually very quiet. This makes them even harder to see when they are not calling.
