Photo: Leo UdB / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rainbow Pitta
Pitta iris
Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) is a member of the Pittidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 62.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pittidae Pittas
- Genus Pitta
- Species iris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rainbow Pitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Rainbow Pitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) belongs to the Pittidae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU nc Australia.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.2 g, with a wing length of about 10.5 cm and a tail of around 3.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 259,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rainbow Pitta?
The Rainbow Pitta is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.2 g.
Where does the Rainbow Pitta live?
The Rainbow Pitta is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU nc Australia, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Rainbow Pitta belong to?
The Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris) belongs to the Pittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Rainbow Pitta eat?
The Rainbow Pitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rainbow Pitta migrate?
The Rainbow Pitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Rainbow Pitta endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Rainbow Pitta make?
1 real field recording of the Rainbow Pitta — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rainbow Pitta's range?
The Rainbow Pitta has a mapped global range of about 259,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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