Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii)

Other Names (World)
Azure-breasted Pitta, Steere's Pitta

Family
Pittidae (Pittas)

Size
18 - 19.50 cm

First Described (Guide)
(Sharpe, 1876)

Habitat
Lowland forest on limestone karst or forest liberally scattered with limestone boulders. From sea-level - 750 m.

Range (Guide)

Philippines (B).

Population
Estimated population is 2,500 - 9,999 (2010) and decreasing.

Status VU
Lowland forest clearance is the main threat.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Voice
A loud series of 4-5 explosive short whistles 'whep-whep-whep-whep', repeated every few seconds.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (27)...)

Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii) [XC534232]
by Frank Lambert from Bilar, Bohol, Central Visayas, Philippines (call)

Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii) [XC92173]
by David Edwards from PICOP, Bislig, Mindanao, Philippines (song)

Subspecies
Has sometimes been considered closest to Superb Pitta (Pitta superba) and Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima). Possibly forms superspecies with Superb Pitta (Pitta superba), Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima) and Western Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida), but morphological differences appear to be too great for this treatment to be acceptable. Subspecies coelestis poorly differentiated, possibly not meriting taxonomic recognition.

The following 2 subspecies are recognised:

coelestis Parkes, 1971 - Central Philippines (Samar, Leyte, Bohol).
steerii (Sharpe, 1876) - Mindanao.

Similar Species
Western Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida) which is smaller, duller, has black throat and green underparts.

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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