Pittas (Pittidae)

Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima) - HBW 8, p. 145

French: Brève d’Halmahera German: Weißbrustpitta Spanish: Pita de Halmahera
Other common names: Great/Halmahera/Moluccan Pitta

Taxonomy: Pitta maxima S. Müller and Schlegel, 1845, Halmahera.
Relationships uncertain. Has sometimes been considered closest to P. superba and P. sordida, or to form a superspecies with those and P. steerii, but morphological differences appear to be too great for this treatment to be acceptable; further DNA studies required. Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • maxima S. Müller & Schlegel, 1845 - Halmahera, including islands of Kasiruta and Bacan, possibly also Mandioli and Obi.
  • morotaiensis van Bemmel, 1939 - Morotai.