Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China (mainland), India, Indonesia, Laos (B), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Australia, Christmas Island, Hong Kong (China).
Breeds from southern & eastern Myanmar (south to Tenasserim) and southern China (southern Yunnan) through Thailand (except central and most of east), Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (Annam, Cochinchina) to northern Peninsular Malaysia (Langkawi I, Perlis); migrates to Sumatra and Borneo (possibly breeds).
Voice
Loud, clear, double whistle, 'taew-laew', 'pu-wi-u, pu-wi-u' and 'pu-wiu'. Similar to that of a Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) but more husky, slightly lower and with a different emphasis and timing. Also a loud, 'skieew' alarm call.
Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) [XC314601]
by Yeo SB from Ko Tarutao, Tarutao National Marine Park, Thailand (song)
Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) [XC658625]
by Ding Li Yong from Phu Chong Na Yoi National Park, Thailand (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds in continental south-east Asia.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura), Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) and Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha). Sometimes considered conspecific with Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis) which is smaller, has a buffish supercillium and chestnut crown-stripe, has paler buff underparts and lighter green upperparts and has smaller white wing-patches, and Mangrove Pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) which has a larger bill and different head pattern as well as voice.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet