INDIAN PITTA

Description:

The Indian pitta (Pitta brachyura) is a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. It inhabits scrub jungle, deciduous and dense evergreen forest. Breeding in the forests of the Himalayas, hills of central and western India, they migrate to other parts of the peninsula in winter. Although very colourful, where they hop and pick insects on the forest floor. They have a distinctive two note whistling call which may be heard at dawn and dusk. Also known as the six O’clock bird in Sri Lanka. It is considered Least Concern by IUCN as its range is very large.

Habitat:

Indian pittas roost in trees. They feed on insects and other small invertebrates that they usually pick up from the ground or leaf litter. They have also been noted to take kitchen food scraps from the ground. They are usually shy and hidden in the undergrowth of thick forest cover. It is a widespread migratory bird in Sri Lanka.