Schneider's pitta is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to Sumatra in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss. It was rediscovered in 1988 after last being seen in 1918.
Region
Sumatra, Indonesia
Typical Environment
Found in subtropical to tropical moist montane forests, especially in mossy, mature evergreen forest with dense understory. Prefers shaded ravines, ridgelines, and slopes with thick leaf litter and fallen logs. Often occurs near small streams and seepage areas where soil is soft for probing. It keeps to undisturbed interior forest and is sensitive to logging and undergrowth clearance.
Altitude Range
800–2000 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Schneider's pitta is a secretive ground-dwelling bird of Sumatra’s montane rainforests, long known only from early 20th-century specimens before being rediscovered in 1988. It forages quietly on the forest floor, where its unobtrusive behavior makes it hard to see. Ongoing loss and fragmentation of montane forest habitat remain the primary threats, though populations persist in a few protected areas.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fast dashes between cover
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, spending most time walking and hopping on the forest floor. Nests are typically domed or ball-like structures placed on or close to the ground, concealed in dense vegetation. Both parents are thought to share incubation and chick-rearing duties, as in many pittas.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of clear, mellow, whistled notes delivered at intervals, often from a hidden perch or low branch. Calls are simple, carrying well through dense forest, and may be repeated in slow series during dawn and dusk.
