Pittas nest in hollow, ball-like structures made of vegetation, often close to the ground. They fly with a rapid wing-beat when disturbed, keeping close to the forest floor, and in some species revealing conspicuous white wing flashes. Some species are migratory. Almost all species are beautifully coloured with rich blue, gold, red or green patterns.
Nine species are resident in the Greater Sundas. Two additional species visit as migrants.
Banded Pitta (Pitta guajana)
Description: Unmistakable, medium-size (22 cm), plump,
golden-barred pitta. Black head with conspicuous broad yellow eyebrow
diagnostic, back and wings brown with white wing bar; tail blue; chin
white. Island races differ. Breast and flanks barred black and yellow in
Borneo and Java; blue and orange in Sumatra. Java male has blue upper
breast bar; Bornean race has blue lower breast patch; Sumatran race has
blue belly and orange nape, also broader white wing bars. Females are all
duller and more rufous.
Iris - brown; bill - black; feet - black.
Voice: loudish pa-oh, a high pieuw, or a soft, strident purrrr.
Distribution and status: In Borneo recorded in lowlands but mostly hills, from 500 to 1500 m; on both islands rather local.
Habits: Favours shady, primary or secondary forests where it hops quickly along the floor or along dead logs. Sometimes found in low bushes, salak, and rattan thickets. It is a shy bird sometimes seen dashing across a forest path but more often only heard. Sleeps in low vegetation, only 1 - 3 m above the ground.
Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha)
Description: Medium-sized (20 cm), colourful pitta. As
Blue-winged Pitta but with paler and greyer underparts, and sky blue
wing and rump patches.
Voice: Similar to Blue-winged Pitta.
Distribution and status: Occassionally locally common up to
1000 m, particularly in north.
Habits: As Blue-winged Pitta.
Note: May be conspecific with Indian Pitta P. brachyura.
Iris - brown; bill - blackish; feet - blackish.