African Pitta
NameAfrican Pitta
Common NameAfrican Pitta
Scientific NamePitta angolensis
FamilyPittidae
Wingspan (cm)32
Length (cm)19
Weight (g)60
Plumage DetailsThe African Pitta exhibits striking plumage with a bright green back and wings, contrasting with pale buffy-yellow underparts. It has a distinctive black mask extending through the eye, bordered by a pale creamy supercilium. Bright iridescent blue patches are visible on the wing coverts, and the lower belly/vent area is reddish-orange.
Vocalization / CallIts call is a distinctive, loud, clear, and often repeated whistling 'prrrrip-prrrrip' or 'twee-twee', sometimes described as a frog-like croak.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a migratory species, breeding in central Africa (e.g., Congo Basin) and migrating to eastern and southern Africa (e.g., Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa) during the non-breeding season.
Identifying Featuresvibrant green and buff plumage, black eye-stripe with pale supercilium, bright blue wing patches, reddish vent, short tail, ground-dwelling behavior
Description
The African Pitta is a shy, secretive ground-dwelling bird known for its vibrant and colorful plumage. It typically forages in dense forest undergrowth, often detected more by its distinctive call than by sight.
