Western hooded pitta

The western hooded pitta is a passerine bird in the family Pittidae. It is common in eastern and southeastern Asia and maritime Southeast Asia, where it lives in several types of forests as well as on plantations and other cultivated areas. It is a green bird with a black head and chestnut crown. It forages on the ground for insects and their larvae, and also eats berries. It breeds between February and August, the pair being strongly territorial and building their nest on the ground. Incubation and care of the fledglings is done by both parents. The bird has a wide range, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern". It was formerly considered to be conspecific with the Nicobar hooded pitta, the Minahasa hooded pitta, the eastern hooded pitta and the Biak hooded pitta.

Distribution

Region

East and Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

Occurs widely from parts of eastern South Asia and southern China through Indochina to the Malay Peninsula and across much of maritime Southeast Asia. It inhabits primary and secondary evergreen forests, forest edges, bamboo thickets, and mangroves. The species also uses plantations, selectively logged areas, and other cultivated landscapes with dense ground cover. It forages mostly on the shaded forest floor with ample leaf litter and moist soils. Seasonal movements occur in some populations, with birds shifting between breeding and non-breeding areas.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1500 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size16–19 cm

Wing Span25–30 cm

Male Weight0.09 kg

Female Weight0.085 kg

Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The western hooded pitta was formerly lumped with several island and eastern forms but is now treated as a separate species within the hooded pitta complex. Its ringing, two-note whistle carries far through forest understory and is often heard before the bird is seen. Both parents share nest building, incubation, and chick-rearing, typically in a domed ground nest. It adapts to degraded habitats and plantations, which helps explain its broad distribution and Least Concern status.

Gallery

Western hooded pitta at Sri Phang-nga National Park, Thailand

Behaviour

Temperament

solitary and territorial

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats

Social Behavior

Typically seen alone or in pairs, maintaining well-defined territories during the breeding season. Nests are dome-shaped and placed on or near the ground, concealed in dense vegetation. Both sexes build the nest, incubate the eggs, and feed the young.

Migratory Pattern

Partial migrant

Song Description

A clear, far-carrying two-note whistle, often rendered as a repeated ‘whee-tee’ or ‘whio-whit’. Calls are delivered from low perches or hidden within dense understory, with persistent repetition at dawn and dusk.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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