Rusty-naped pitta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rusty-naped pitta |
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Hydrornis
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| Species: |
oatesi
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The rusty-naped pitta (Hydrornis oatesi) is a colorful bird that lives in forests. It belongs to a bird family called Pittidae, known for their bright feathers and shy nature. These birds are often hard to spot because they spend a lot of time on the forest floor.
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How Scientists Name the Rusty-naped Pitta
Scientists use a special system to name and group living things. This is called taxonomy. The rusty-naped pitta was first described by a scientist named Allan Octavian Hume in 1873. He found specimens, which are examples of the bird, in a place called the Pegu Range in Myanmar.
Hume gave the bird its scientific name, Hydrornis oatesi. The second part of the name, oatesi, honors another bird expert, Eugene William Oates. For a while, the bird was placed in a different group called Pitta. But in 2006, after studying the bird's DNA, scientists moved it back to the Hydrornis group. This group was first named by Edward Blyth in 1843.
Different Kinds of Rusty-naped Pittas
Just like there are different breeds of dogs, there are different types of rusty-naped pittas. Scientists call these subspecies. There are four known subspecies:
- H. o. oatesi Hume, 1873 – This one lives from eastern Myanmar to northeast Laos and Thailand.
- H. o. castaneiceps (Delacour & Jabouille, 1930) – You can find this one in southeast China, central Laos, and northwest Vietnam.
- H. o. bolovenensis (Delacour, 1932) – This subspecies lives in southern Laos and southern Vietnam.
- H. o. deborah (King, BF, 1978) – This type is found in the central Malay Peninsula.
What the Rusty-naped Pitta Looks Like
The male and female rusty-naped pittas look a bit different. The male bird has a deep brown head and belly. Its wings are a dull green color. It also has a clear black stripe that goes behind its eyes.
The female bird is not as brightly colored as the male. Her wings have a brownish tint. She also has faint dark patterns on her lower throat, almost like scales.
Where the Rusty-naped Pitta Lives
The rusty-naped pitta is found in a region called Indochina. This area includes countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and parts of southern China.
These birds like to live in warm, wet forests. They can be found in lowland forests, which are not very high up. They also live in forests on mountains, often in bamboo forests. They prefer places that are above 800 meters (about 2,600 feet) in height.
