Superb Pitta (Pitta superba)

Other Names (World)
Superb Pitta, Black-backed Pitta

Family
Pittidae (Pittas)

Size
22 cm

First Described (Guide)
Rothschild & Hartert, 1914

Habitat
Possibly primary forest and patchy forest with areas of secondary forest and garden regrowth, possibly bamboo thickets or open hilltop forest near a reasonably large river with stones. From 100 - 200 m.

Range (Guide)

Papua New Guinea (B) (NB).

Manus I, in Admiralty Is.

Population
Estimated population is 250 - 999 (2010).

Status EN
Habitat loss and degradation, predation by feral cats and dogs and Brown Tree Snake Boiga irregularis, are the main threats.

For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

Habits
Very secretive and hardly ever seen.

Voice
A loud 'ku-ku', the wing-coverts flashing with each note.

Xeno-Canto Sound Files (more (1)...)

Superb Pitta (Pitta superba) [XC800925]
by id from Rossun area, Manus District, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea (call, aaron imitating the pitta, walking noise)

Superb Pitta (Pitta superba) [XC70363]
by Phil Gregory from Manus Island, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea (song)

Subspecies
Relationships uncertain. Has sometimes been considered closest to Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima) and Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii). Possibly forms superspecies with Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima), Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii) and Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida), but morphological differences appear to be too great for this treatment to be appropriate.

No subspecies.

Similar Species
Flushed birds may be confused with all-black Metallic Starling (Aplonis metallica) and calls may be confused with Mackinlay's Cuckoo-Dove (Macropygia mackinlayi).

References
See References.

Files:

JPG files for Superb Pitta (Pitta superba) - 10 files

More Information

BirdLife International

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BirdLife International Species Factsheet.

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