An extract from my forthcoming New Guinea Field Guide
Papuan Pitta Erythropitta macklotii
Uncommon resident (NG)
L 17 cm. Six subspecies in region in 3 groups: Papuan Pitta mack- lotii bright
orange-rufous nape, no pale blue on head, variable black breast band (W and S
NG including W Papuan Is, Yapen and Aru Is); digglesi presumed winter migrant
from Cape York, in NE Australia (S NG); oblita darker crown and hindneck (SE
NG); loriae (extreme SE PNG); Habenicht’s Pitta: habenichti brighter on nape (N
NG east
to Astrolabe Bay); D’Entrecasteaux Pitta: finschii blue upperparts and
breastband (D’Entrecasteaux Archipelago). Inhabits lowland
and hill forest and secondary regrowth throughout mainland except for Trans-Fly
savannas, from sea-level to 1200 m, most frequent in lowlands and hills. Some
local wandering in dry season or drought. Shy and unobtrusive when foraging on
ground; more confiding when calling from high perch. ID Striking multicoloured
pitta; sexes similar, F slightly duller. Ad has shining sky-blue upper breast,
variable
black breastband, and orange-red lower breast to undertail-coverts; brownish
head and throat with orange-rufous cap and hindneck, shining green mantle and
shining dark blue wing-coverts. In flight, shows small white central spot on
the dark brown primaries and blue rump and uppertail. Iris dark brown to
red-brown, bill olive to dark bluish-grey, legs and feet dark brown to
pinkish-slaty. Imm buffy brown with paler underparts, creamy lower throat, dull
blue on rump and tail, orange-red on bill; soon shows some green, blue and red.
Voc Territorial call of macklotii in mainland NG a low, tentative, tremulous
double whistle, the first note ascending, then a descend- ing second, “croooo,
croooo”, taking 2–3 seconds, and repeated at 8–30-second intervals, sometimes
for long periods; occasionally gives third or fourth note similar to the
second, or just a single note. Alarm call a strident “ke-ah”. Calls, especially
in early morning, from branches in subcanopy and sometimes from ground or logs;
more often heard than seen. Does not call at night. SS Adult distinctive. Juv
differs from juv Eastern Hooded Pitta in buffy-brown head, patterned throat,
paler plumage, and soon develops blue on upperparts. TN Formerly placed in the
genus Pitta. Form digglesi often synonymized with macklotii. Formerly
considered conspecific with Philippine Pitta (E. erythrogaster). In recent
molecular study, the populations herein comprising present species were divided
into three distinct species: macklotii, with races digglesi and loriae (with
possible races aruen- sis and kuehni included in nominate macklotii, and oblita
in loriae); habenichti; and finschii. Arrangement here follows morphological
analysis for HBW–BL Checklist that supports distinctiveness of present species,
and resurrects race oblita; it finds habenichti weakly and finschii fairly
strongly distinct (latter most closely allied to loriae). Race digglesi (yorkii
is a synonym) appears weakly marked and its validity needs further study. AN
Blue-breasted Pitta.
Phil Gregory
<>
ornithological writer/tour leader/tour facilitator
Field Guides / Sicklebill Safaris / Cassowary House / Cassowary Tours
PO Box 387
Kuranda
QLD 4881
Australia
Ph: +61 7 40 937 318
Email: <>
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<http://www.cassowary-house.com.au/>
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