Fairy Pitta

Pitta nympha

This spectacular ground-dwelling bird migrates an incredible 3,000-mile journey each year between Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, where it hunts for earthworms in dense forests.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Fairy Pitta is a strikingly colourful bird with a green back, blue wings, and a chestnut-brown crown. Its underparts are buff, with a distinctive red lower belly and undertail coverts.

The throat and cheeks are white, and it has a dark black mask extending across the face, with a white stripe above. The tail is short and dark green, with a cobalt-blue tip.

Both sexes have similar plumage, making them difficult to distinguish in the field. Juveniles resemble adults but have duller colours and less defined markings.

Size

Length

16cm to 19cm

Wingspan

30cm to 35cm

Weight

40g to 60g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Green Blue Brown

Secondary Colour

Black White Buff

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Fairy Pitta can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Fairy Pitta can be found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Fairy Pitta is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Fairy Pittas inhabit dense, moist, broadleaf forests and mature secondary woodlands. They breed in parts of eastern Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and eastern China. During winter, they migrate to Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

These birds prefer areas with a thick understory and abundant leaf litter for foraging. They are rarely found in open habitats or heavily disturbed forests.

Elevation Range

Up to 1,500 meters

Climate zones

Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Fairy Pitta. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons