Blue-headed pitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue-headed pitta |
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Hydrornis
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| Species: |
baudii
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The blue-headed pitta (scientific name: Hydrornis baudii) is a beautiful bird that belongs to the pitta family. You can only find this special bird on the island of Borneo. When a plant or animal is found only in one place, it's called endemic to that area.
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Meet the Blue-Headed Pitta
The blue-headed pitta is a medium-sized bird, growing to about 17 cm (6.7 in) long. That's about the size of a small ruler!
What Do They Look Like?
The male blue-headed pitta is super colorful. He has a bright blue top of his head, black cheeks, and a white throat. His back is a reddish-brown, and his tail and belly are a pretty violet-blue. His wings are black with white spots.
The female birds are not as bright. Their backs and heads are a light brown color. They only have blue on their tails. This difference in color helps tell the males and females apart.
Where Do They Live?
These amazing birds live only on the island of Borneo. You can find them in different parts of Borneo, including Brunei, Kalimantan (which is part of Indonesia), and Sarawak and Sabah (which are parts of Malaysia).
Their Home in the Forest
Blue-headed pittas love to live in tropical lowland forests. These are forests that are always green and don't lose their leaves. They prefer forests that haven't been disturbed by humans.
They usually live in areas below 600 m (2,000 ft) in height. This means they like the lower parts of the forest, not high up in the mountains.
Blue-Headed Pitta Families
Scientists believe these birds have their babies during certain times of the year. They have found birds ready to lay eggs between March and June. A female bird about to lay eggs was also found in July.
Their Nests and Eggs
Young birds have been seen in nests from May to October. The nest of a blue-headed pitta is shaped like a round dome. It's made of leaves and has an opening on the side. These nests are usually built close to the ground. In one nest that was studied, two eggs were found.
Protecting the Blue-Headed Pitta
The blue-headed pitta is considered a vulnerable species. This means they are at risk of becoming endangered.
Why Are They in Danger?
The biggest problem for these birds is habitat loss. The forests where they live in Borneo are being cut down very quickly. This is happening because of things like logging and turning forests into farms. When their homes disappear, it's harder for these beautiful birds to survive. Protecting their forest homes is very important to help the blue-headed pitta.
