Image of the Month February 2022: Indian Pitta by Glen Valentine
PREVIOUS PAGEBe it wandering through the dappled shade of the warm summer Sal forests of Northern India or meandering through a crisp winter dry riverbed in Sri Lanka at dawn, we keep a sharp ear out for the distinct “wieet-pyou” call of the Indian Pitta. We can also be alerted to this gem’s presence by the sudden flash of its glistening blue wings as it’s startled from the leaflitter. The brilliant blue however is just one demonstration of bright colour that the Indian Pitta has to offer. Striking scarlet, green, black, white, and orange feathering also ornately decorate this species which has resulted in the apt name of “Navrang” or “nine colours”.
Pittas, for most birders, are a family of birds to be admired and cherished and are always a treat on any birding tour. They are characteristically a little on the shy side, and typically you must use all your skill, senses, and experience as a birder to connect with one. The search, in itself, is exciting and the final feeling when you succeed is sheer elation! Taking into account some recent splitting there are an incredible 44 different species of Pitta on the planet, with all but 2 (from Africa) dotted across Asia and Australasia. Some are rare and almost mythical while others are fairly common and a touch easier to see but they are all beautiful, with many species showcasing outrageous plumage colouration and definition.
The Indian Pitta is one of the more commonly encountered members of the family. In the right habitat they often occur at a fairly high density and if you spend time looking for them you will usually be rewarded with some fabulous sightings. They are always a major highlight on any of our tours through Southern India and Sri Lanka where they can often be seen flipping leaves in search of an invertebrate meal and accompanied by the likes of Rufous Babbler, Forest Wagtail, Orange-headed Thrush or even the endangered Nilgiri Laughingthrush, in the right location. The southern part of the range is where these stunning birds prefer to spend the non-breeding season from roughly October through to March. During the breeding season, at the start of the monsoon, they move north into the central Indian hills and the Himalayan foothills. Peak breeding months are typically June and July.
Not only is India home to twelve percent of the worlds bird species (a list of over 1350 birds), but it has a plethora of incredibly diverse flora and fauna on offer, being one of the richest countries in terms of biodiversity. At Rockjumper we offer a comprehensive suite of birding and wildlife tours through India. Some of these such as our popular Northern India tours take in the very best birding sites in the Himalayan foothills and combine these with fantastic opportunities to see Tiger and other wildlife, explore the famous wetlands of Bharatpur and experience historical sites such as the Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri. Our Southern India tours offer chances at all the regions endemics which number some 38 species, together with a host of near endemics that are shared with Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka itself has 34 endemics and by combing both tours you get an exceptional overview of these two unique countries and their remarkable avifauna and other wildlife.
We can’t wait to explore the Indian Subcontinent with you!