Pitta versicolor
Not Threatened
Adult has fore crown to nape chestnut with narrow black median stripe, rest of head, hind neck and throat black; upperparts green, rump shining turquoise-blue, tail black with green tip; lesser wing-coverts glossy turquoise, rest of coverts bright green; flight-feathers black, secondaries edged green, small white patch near base of primaries; under parts golden buff, green tingle on sides of breast, black belly patch, scarlet on lower belly and undertail-coverts; iris dark brown; bill black; feet flesh-pink to pale purplish-flesh. Sexes alike. Dusky stripes found on green and blue upperparts of 68% of 70 adults examined (both sexes). Juvenile is duller, throat whitish, no blue on wing, orange tip and base of bill. Race simillina is smaller, brighter green above, deeper yellow-brown below.
19 – 21 cm; male 70 – 112 g, female 70 – 128 g
Taxonomy: Formerly considered conspecific with P. elegans or with P. iris, but seems best regarded as forming a superspecies with those together with P. anerythra. Population from Cairns region of NE Queensland sometimes separated as race intermedia on basis of size and plumage characters, but variation in these parameters is clinal from N to S. Two subspecies recognized. (source: Handbook of the Birds of World)
Subspecies and Distribution:
- simillima Gould, 1868 - islands in Torres Strait, and NE Queensland (from Cape York Peninsula S to Cairns District); some migrate to S New Guinea.
- versicolor Swainson, 1825 - Cairns District S to E New South Wales (S to R Hunter region).
Predominantly rainforest with luxuriant to sparse undergrowth, mostly in wet gulleys and river valleys; also dry sclerophyll forest and wet eucalyptus (Eucalyptus) forest. Also found in mangroves and coastal thickets outside breeding season and in New Guinea found in monsoon woodland; migrants occasionally recorded in urban gardens. Sea-level to 1500 m.
Chiefly snails and insects (beetles, ants), also earthworms, spiders, woodlice (Isopoda); occasionally shrimps and crabs, also leeches, even small lizards. Some vegetable matter sometimes taken, e.g. fruits and berries, seeds. Stones or hard wood used as “anvils” to smash snail shells; small lizard bashed against logs before swallowing. Forages on ground, singly or in loose contact with partner. Hops about, turns over dead leaves and debris, and tosses them aside with bill; also scratches at soil and leaf litter.
Formerly considered conspecific with P. elegans or with P. iris, but seems best regarded as forming a superspecies with those together with P. anerythra. Population from Cairns region of NE Queensland sometimes separated as race intermedia on basis of size and plumage characters, but variation in these parameters is clinal from N to S. Two subspecies recognized.
