Red-bellied Pitta

About the Red-bellied Pitta

The Philippine pitta (Erythropitta erythrogaster) or blue-breasted pitta, is a species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is a striking and colorful with a red belly, black throat, a brown head, a blue chest, rump and tail. It is found in Indonesia and the Philippines. Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest. It is part of the Red-bellied pitta species complex.

It is part of the Red-bellied pitta species complex which includes a total of 9 different pitta species and is continuing to be further split with a potential to reach 17 total species. It is differentiated by its all cobalt-blue upperparts and breast-sides, plain dark brown crown versus paler brown crown with dark brown lateral stripes, much reduced or no white in centre of black throat, stronger red belly, longer bill, and distinctly shorter wings.

Four subspecies are recognized: E. e. erythrogaster– Found on Philippines (except Calamian Group, Palawan and Sulu Archipelago). E. e. propinqua – Found on Palawan and the Calamian Islands E. e. yairocho – Found on Sulu Archipelago

E. e. inspeculata – Found on Talaud Islands Forages... Wikipedia →