The Minahasa hooded pitta is a species of passerine bird in the pitta family Pittidae that is endemic to the Minahasa Peninsula at the north of the island of Sulawesi.
Region
Sulawesi
Typical Environment
Endemic to the Minahasa Peninsula in northern Sulawesi, where it inhabits humid evergreen forest. It uses primary and mature secondary forest as well as dense thickets and bamboo stands with a shaded understory. Birds forage mainly on the forest floor and along stream gullies, often in areas with deep leaf litter. It may persist in selectively logged forest if understory structure remains intact, but it is scarce in heavily degraded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This elusive forest bird is most often detected by its clear, whistled song rather than by sight. Like other pittas, it spends much of its time on the forest floor, quietly hopping through leaf litter for prey. Habitat loss and fragmentation in northern Sulawesi likely affect its local distribution. It avoids opening and prefers dense understory cover.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low direct flights between cover
Social Behavior
Typically solitary or in pairs, maintaining territories on the forest floor. Nests are usually domed structures on or near the ground, built from leaves and roots. Both adults are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties, as in related pittas.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A clear, ringing two-note whistle repeated at intervals, often delivered from a low perch at dawn and dusk. Calls carry well through dense vegetation and are the primary cue to its presence.
