Showing posts with label Pittas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pittas. Show all posts

Monday, January 26, 2015

අවිච්චියා/Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura)

Indian Pitta is a common migrant encountered throughout the island except highest hills. It inhabits forest undergrowth and any such habitat with shade such as dense home gardens, plantations and even urban parks. After arriving each bird demarcates its own territory and remain there for rest of its stay while not letting other Pittas to intrude it. Its territorial call often heard at dawn and dusk. It feeds on the ground skulking in undergrowth and turning over dead leaves in search of insects. Other than insects Indian Pitta also feeds on worms, small snails, etc. It has a habit of slowly lifting tail up and down. It breeds in the Himalayan foothills and Central India.