African Wildlife & Environment Issue 83

BIRDING

THE AFRICAN PITTA

Article: John Wesson / Photographs: Warwick Tarboton

The African Pitta is an Afrotropical bird of the family Pittidae, and one that is on most birders’ Bucket Lists’. It is a locally common to uncommon species, resident and migratory in the west, and an intra-African migrant between equatorial and southeastern Africa. They are elusive and hard to observe despite their brightly coloured plumage, and their loud, explosive calls are infrequently heard. They tend to be shy, remaining motionless for long periods. These plump, somewhat thrush-like birds forage on leaf litter under the canopy of riparian or coastal forest and thickets, or in climax miombo forests. They spend much time during the start of the day and at dusk scratching in leaf litter, around termitaria or they may stand motionless for long periods. Following rains, breeding birds call and display from the mid-canopy.

39 | African Wildlife & Environment | Issue 83 (2023)