Photo: Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
African Pitta
Pitta angolensis
African Pitta (Pitta angolensis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The African Pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a member of the Pittidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 62.7 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 angolensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The African 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 African Pitta is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The African Pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a member of the Pittidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF e, se, wc, w.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.7 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 4.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the African Pitta?
The African Pitta is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.7 g.
Where does the African Pitta live?
The African Pitta is found across Africa with a range covering AF e, se, wc, w, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the African Pitta belong to?
The African Pitta (Pitta angolensis) belongs to the Pittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the African Pitta eat?
The African Pitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the African Pitta migrate?
The African Pitta is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the African 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 African Pitta make?
1 real field recording of the African 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 African Pitta's range?
The African Pitta has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million 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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Guides for this bird
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