The bar-bellied pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is found in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Its natural habitat is seasonal tropical forest.
Region
Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam)
Typical Environment
Occurs in seasonal tropical and semi-evergreen forests, often in lowland and foothill zones with dense understory. It frequents bamboo thickets, secondary forest with good leaf-litter, and riparian forest edges. The species is tied to shaded, humid microhabitats where leaf litter accumulates. Activity is concentrated on or near the ground, usually in quiet, undisturbed forest blocks.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The bar-bellied pitta is a striking, ground-dwelling forest bird of Indochina, often heard before it is seen due to its clear, whistled calls. Males show bold barring on the underparts and bright accents, while females are more cryptic and brownish for camouflage on the forest floor. It prefers dense, seasonally moist tropical forests and is highly secretive, moving by hopping and flicking leaves to uncover prey.
Temperament
solitary and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; prefers hopping on ground
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs during the breeding season. Nests are domed and placed low or on the ground, with both parents involved in care. Territorial singing and countersinging occur at dawn, with birds remaining close to dense cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, whistled series of notes, often four to six phrases with slight pauses, carrying far in still forest. Calls are repeated from low perches or hidden positions and may accelerate or descend slightly in pitch.
Plumage
Male with bright green upperparts and strongly barred black-on-yellow underparts; contrasting black facial mask with bluish or azure crown and wing highlights. Female is largely olive-brown to rufous with more subdued, fine barring below, aiding camouflage. Both sexes have a stout, straight bill and relatively long, pale legs.
Diet
Feeds mainly on ground-dwelling invertebrates such as beetles, ants, termites, spiders, earthworms, and snails. It occasionally takes small amphibians and other soft-bodied prey. Foraging involves deliberate hopping and flicking or probing through leaf litter with its strong bill.
Preferred Environment
Forages on shaded forest floors with deep leaf litter, near streams, fallen logs, or bamboo stands. Often selects dense understory where cover allows close-range hunting while remaining concealed.
