The blue-naped pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae.
Region
South and Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Occurs from the Himalayan foothills through northeastern India and Bangladesh into Myanmar, southern China, and Indochina. It inhabits subtropical and tropical moist forests with dense undergrowth, bamboo, and thickets. The species favors shaded ravines, stream edges, and forest floor microhabitats with deep leaf litter. It is typically found in older secondary forest and well-structured evergreen or mixed deciduous forest.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The blue-naped pitta is a shy, ground-dwelling bird of dense forests, often detected by its ringing, two-note whistle rather than seen. It forages by hopping through leaf litter and probing for invertebrates with its strong bill. During the breeding season it builds a domed ground nest with a side entrance, well hidden among roots or undergrowth.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats close to the ground
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs within well-vegetated forest. Territorial during the breeding season, when pairs build a domed ground nest with a side entrance from leaves and fibers. Nests are concealed among roots, banks, or dense undergrowth.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A loud, clear, two-note whistle, often rendered as whee-oo or piu-pee, repeated at intervals. Calls carry far through dense forest, especially at dawn and dusk.
Plumage
Robust pitta with rich rufous to buff underparts, green upperparts, and a vivid blue patch across the hindcrown and nape. Wings are green with bluish tones and the tail is bluish; the bill is stout and dark. Females are typically duller and greener overall with a less vivid blue nape.
Diet
Primarily feeds on insects and other invertebrates such as beetles, ants, termites, earthworms, and snails. It probes and flicks aside leaf litter with its bill to uncover prey. Occasionally takes small vertebrates when available.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor, along stream banks, and in ravines with deep leaf litter. Often uses edges of bamboo stands and thick understory where cover is plentiful.
