Graceful Pitta

About the Graceful Pitta

The graceful pitta (Erythropitta venusta), sometimes alternatively known as the black-crowned pitta (although this term is more regularly applied to Erythropitta ussheri), is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It occurs in Sumatra in Indonesia, where its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The graceful pitta was formally described in 1836 by the German naturalist Salomon Müller under the binomial name Pitta venusta. His specimens had been collected in western Sumatra. The specific epithet is from the Latin adjective, venustus, meaning "beautiful" or "lovely". The graceful pitta is now one of 15 species placed in the genus Erythropitta that was introduced in 1854 by Charles Lucien Bonaparte. The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised.

The graceful pitta is a petite bird that measures approximately 18 cm (7.1 in) in length. Its black coloring is enhanced with reddish undertones, and the bottom of its wings have vivid blue stripes running down them. The lower breast and abdomen are a dull crimson. The upper chest is dark brown with a purple hue. The legs can appear to be... Wikipedia →