Photo: Jason Thompson from Bangkok, Thailand / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Fairy Pitta
Pitta nympha
Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) is a member of the Pittidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 88.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pittidae Pittas
- Genus Pitta
- Species nympha
Where it lives
Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu (southern, central Japan), Jeju (south of Korean Pen.), southern, eastern China and Taiwan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 88.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Fairy 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 Fairy Pitta is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) is a species of bird in the Pittidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, PAL Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu (s, c Japan), Jeju (s of Korean Pen.), s, e China and Taiwan.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 88.3 g, with a wing length of about 12.1 cm and a tail of around 3.9 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Fairy Pitta?
The Fairy Pitta is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 88.3 g.
Where does the Fairy Pitta live?
The Fairy Pitta is found across Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, PAL Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu (s, c Japan), Jeju (s of Korean Pen.), s, e China and Taiwan, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Fairy Pitta belong to?
The Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha) belongs to the Pittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Fairy Pitta eat?
The Fairy Pitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Fairy Pitta migrate?
The Fairy Pitta is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Fairy Pitta endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Fairy Pitta make?
1 real field recording of the Fairy 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 Fairy Pitta's range?
The Fairy Pitta has a mapped global range of about 1.2 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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