Great pittadross

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Great pittadross
Systematics
Order : Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination : Songbirds (passeri)
Family : Flycatcher (Petroicidae)
Subfamily : Amalocichlinae
Genre : Amalocichla
Type : Great pittadross
Scientific name
Amalocichla sclateriana
De Vis , 1892

The great pitta thrush ( Amalocichla sclateriana ), also known as soft- tailed thrush or white-tailed thrush , is a songbird species from the family of snapper (Petroicidae). It occurs on the island of New Guinea . The two subspecies A. s. sclateriana De Vis , 1892 and A. s. occidentalis margin , 1940 differentiated. The great pitta thrush and the small pitta thrush ( Amalocichla incerta ) form the genus Amalocichla . Both species used to belong to the thrush family (Turdidae).

features

The great pitta thrush reaches a size of 20 cm. In the nominate form , the crown of the head and the top are dark olive brown. The sides of the head are vivid brown. The rein area is light gray. A light yellow-brown eye ring runs around the iris. The wings are dark brown. The wing feathers and wing coverts have reddish brown hems that are wider at the arm wings. The tail is dark olive-brown. The chin and the upper chest are light gray with a fine brown marbling. The lower throat and the sides of the neck are dirty white. The chest is marbled gray-brown. The belly sides and the flanks are gray. The middle of the abdomen is dirty white to light sand-colored. The lower wings show a light stripe over the bases of the wing feathers. The iris is dark brown. The bill is dark brown, the lower bill is lighter. The legs are straw brown. The sexes are similar. The juvenile birds the head and back are bright reddish brown with a black marbling. The elytra are banded reddish brown and black. The reddish brown breast feathers have narrow black tips. In the subspecies A. s. occidentalis , the upper side is darker and more reddish-brown than in the nominate form. The underside is more reddish olive brown and the beak is longer. Little information is available about their vocalizations. They include a loud three-tone whistle, a sharp, cursing alarm call and other whistling calls.

distribution and habitat

The nominate form is found in the mountains of Southeast New Guinea, particularly at Mt. Albert Edward, at English Peaks, at Mt. Scratchley, at Mt. Kenevi and at Mt. Suckling. The subspecies A. s. occidentalis occurs in the Orange Mountains in central New Guinea. The great pittadross lives in mountain forests at altitudes between 2800 and 3720 m.

Way of life

She has a hidden, terrestrial way of life. Its diet consists of insects, including beetles and spiders, which it prey on the forest floor. Their reproductive behavior has not been researched.

status

The IUCN classifies the great pittadross as not endangered (least concern). In some areas it is considered frequent, but otherwise rare.

literature

Web links