Pittas (Pittidae)
Elegant Pitta (Pitta elegans) - HBW 8, p. 158
French: Brève élégante
German: Schmuckpitta
Spanish: Pita Elegante
Other common names: Two-striped Pitta (vigorsii)
Taxonomy: Pitta elegans Temminck, 1836, Timor.
Often considered conspecific with P. brachyura or P. moluccensis. Has also been treated as a subspecies group of P. versicolor, but possibly best regarded as forming a superspecies with that together with P. anerythra and P. iris. Race vigorsii sometimes given full species rank because of its mosaic distribution, but such treatment seems unwarranted. Described forms kalaonensis (Kalao, S of Sulawesi) and plesseni (Kalaotoa) considered indistinguishable from virginalis, while hutzi (S Nusa Penida I, in Lombok Strait) and .. View all taxonomy...
Often considered conspecific with P. brachyura or P. moluccensis. Has also been treated as a subspecies group of P. versicolor, but possibly best regarded as forming a superspecies with that together with P. anerythra and P. iris. Race vigorsii sometimes given full species rank because of its mosaic distribution, but such treatment seems unwarranted. Described forms kalaonensis (Kalao, S of Sulawesi) and plesseni (Kalaotoa) considered indistinguishable from virginalis, while hutzi (S Nusa Penida I, in Lombok Strait) and everetti (Alor) appear inseparable from concinna. Five subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- concinna Gould, 1857 - Lesser Sundas, on Nusa Penida, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Adonara, Lomblen and Alor.
- maria Hartert, 1896 - Sumba.
- virginalis Hartert, 1896 - islands of Tanahjampea, Kalao and Kalaotoa (S of Sulawesi).
- concinna Gould, 1857 - Lesser Sundas, on Nusa Penida, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Adonara, Lomblen and Alor.
- maria Hartert, 1896 - Sumba.
- virginalis Hartert, 1896 - islands of Tanahjampea, Kalao and Kalaotoa (S of Sulawesi).
- elegans Temminck, 1836 - breeds C Lesser Sundas (Semau, Timor, Kisar, possibly Roti); also recorded (probably only as non-breeding visitor) on islands of Ruang and Tahulandang (N of Sulawesi), Ternate (W of Halmahera), Banggai Is, Sula Is (Taliabu, Mangole, Sanana) and C Moluccas (Buru, Boano, Seram).
- vigorsii Gould, 1838 - S Moluccas (Banda, Kasiui, Kur, Tiur), Kai Is (including Taam, Tayandu) and E Lesser Sundas (Damar, Babar); also recorded, probably as migrant, on Seram and Tanimbar Is.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
-
A bird foraging on the forest floor. Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp elegans)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 8 August 2009 49 weeks ago 25 sec 4 -
A bird resting on a branch and finally flying away Locality Potawangka, Flores, Lesser Sundas (ssp concinna)
Stefan Behrens 2003 5 years ago 57 sec 3.9 -
A foraging bird, early in the morning. Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp elegans)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 8 August 2009 49 weeks ago 14 sec 3.8 -
A frontal view of a bird in the early morning, flying away at the end. Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp elegans)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 8 August 2009 49 weeks ago 26 sec 3.3 -
A bird at dawn on the forest floor. Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp elegans)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 8 August 2009 49 weeks ago 26 sec 3.3 -
A bird in the early morning on the forest floor. Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp elegans)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 8 August 2009 49 weeks ago 30 sec 3
-
Male bird standing on one leg
Locality San Diego Zoo, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA (United States) (ssp elegans)
Johannes Pfleiderer 9 August 2008 2 years ago 3.5 -
A bird perched.
Locality Yamdena, Tanimbar Islands, Lesser Sundas (ssp vigorsii)
James Eaton 3 November 2011 14 weeks ago 3.2
-
Calls by one bird on the forest. Locality Tanimbar Islands, Lesser Sundas
(ssp vigorsii)
Josep del Hoyo 3 November 2011 14 weeks ago 4.5
Email this page