Angolapitta

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Angolapitta
Angolapitta

Angolapitta

Systematics
Class : Birds (aves)
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Screeching Birds (Tyranni)
Family : Pittas (Pittidae)
Genre : Pitta
Type : Angolapitta
Scientific name
Pitta angolensis
Vieillot , 1816

The 20-25 centimeter tall Angolapitta ( Pitta angolensis ) is a very colorful member of the Pittas family .

Appearance

The bird has yellow chest plumage. The throat and head are yellow except for the black forehead and the black elongated area around the eye, which narrows towards the back. The beak is black and the tip is curved downwards. The belly is reddish in color. The legs are pale reddish. The wings are greenish at the base and black in the lower part. The blue tips of the wings are striking.

distribution

Distribution map of Angolapitta

The Angolapitta comes in the bush savannah of Sierra Leone to Cameroon and Angola to Tanzania , Kenya , Uganda and northern South Africa before. Outside the breeding season, this species can also be found near the equator .

Way of life

These fast, agile birds are solitary outside of the mating season. They usually stay still on the ground in the thick bushes and move around hopping. This species feeds on insects , especially termites and their larvae, millipedes , mollusks and other invertebrates . To do this, the Angolapittas scratch the leaves aside and bob up and down with their tails. When these very lively birds come across an object of their interest, they assume an upright posture. When threatened, they press themselves to the ground and fluff their chest and tail feathers so that the enemy overlooks them. If that no longer helps, utter a brief shout and usually seek salvation in a quick escape to a tree. The Angolapitta usually undertakes longer hikes in its habitat in the dark.

Courtship

During courtship, the Angolapitta crouches on the ground with upturned feathers and spread wings and stretches its beak towards the sky.

Reproduction

Angolapitta's egg

The Angolapitta builds its nest in bushes or low trees. It is a large, oven-shaped building with a side entrance made of blades of grass, twigs and other parts of plants. Inside it is lined with moss and other plant parts. The female lays 2–3 white or cream-colored eggs with gray or purple spots in the nest. Hatching takes 18 days and is done by both parents. Both adult birds are also involved in feeding the young.

Hazards and protective measures

The Angolapitta is widespread. The IUCN classifies this species as Least Concern .

literature

  • Wildlife of Africa in color. Karl Müller Verlag, Erlangen 1989, pp. 70, 72, 73.
  • Bird life atlas. Unipart Verlag GmbH, Remseck near Stuttgart 1994, ISBN 3-8122-3399-1 , p. 142.
  • The great encyclopedia of birds. Orbis Verlag, 1996, ISBN 3-572-00810-7 , pp. 239, 241.
  • The FSVO encyclopedia birds of the world. BLV Buchverlag GmbH & Co. KG, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-405-16682-9 , p. 418.
  • Animals The large picture encyclopedia with over 2000 species. Dorling Kindersley Verlag GmbH, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-8310-2232-8 , p. 344.
  • Encyclopedia of the Wildlife Birds. Orbis Verlag GmbH, Munich 2003, ISBN 3-572-01378-X , p. 160.

Web link

Commons : Angolapitta  - collection of images, videos and audio files