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Azure-breasted Pitta
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Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Pittidae
Genus: Pitta
Species: Pitta steerii

The Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii) is a rare restricted-range bird in the family Pittidae.

Description[]

The Azure-breasted Pitta is a brightly-colored pitta sized at a length of 18-19.5 cm. It has green upperparts except for a shining azure-blue rump and wing patch. Its head is black with a white throat. The bird also features pale blue underparts and a black patch on center of the belly that merges into the vivid scarlet lower belly and undertail coverts. It has greyish flesh-toned legs and a stout, dark bill.

Voice[]

Its song is a loud series of 4-5 explosive short whistles whep-whep-whep-whep repeated every few seconds. This bird is usually best located by its call and it frequently calls after rain, usually from an elevated perch.

Behavior[]

This ground-dwelling bird's behavior is poorly understood and not very known due to its restricted range and lack of many observations.

Feeding[]

It usually feeds on insects and worms on the ground, fallen logs and boulders.

Breeding and Nesting[]

The nest and eggs of Azure-breasted Pitta are undescribed and there is only little information about breeding.

Distribution and Habitat[]

It is endemic to the islands of Mindanao, Bohol, Leyte and Samar in the Philippines and inhabits subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.

Conservation[]

It is threatened by habitat loss. It is an endangered bird because of harm done to its natural habitat.

According to J. Ibanez in litt. 2007, its whole range has suffered extensive lowland deforestation. In 1988, forest cover had been reduced to an estimated 29% on Mindanao, most of it above 1,000 m. Most remaining lowland forest is now leased to logging concessions or mining applications. Estimates from 1989 were that as little as 433 km2 of old-growth dipterocarp forest remained on Samar and Leyte. Just 4% forest cover is thought to remain on Bohol. Local pressures at Rajah Sikatuna National Park include limited illegal tree-cutting, agricultural expansion and soil erosion. Forest at Bislig is being cleared under concession and re-planted with exotic trees for paper production. Mining for chromite and nickel represents the most significant threat to many remaining forest areas.

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