Photo: John Gould / Henry Constantine Richter / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Giant Pitta
Hydrornis caeruleus
Giant Pitta (Hydrornis caeruleus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Giant Pitta (Hydrornis caeruleus) is a member of the Pittidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 202 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Pittidae Pittas
- Genus Hydrornis
- Species caeruleus
Where it lives
Malay Pen., southwestern Sumatra (at least formerly) and northern, central Borneo
Quick facts
- Weight
- 202 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Pittidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Giant 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 Giant Pitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Giant Pitta (Hydrornis caeruleus) is a species of bird in the Pittidae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR Malay Pen., sw Sumatra (at least formerly) and n, c Borneo.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 202 g, with a wing length of about 14.5 cm and a tail of around 5.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 357,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Giant Pitta?
The Giant Pitta is a large bird that weighs around 202 g.
Where does the Giant Pitta live?
The Giant Pitta is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR Malay Pen., sw Sumatra (at least formerly) and n, c Borneo, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Giant Pitta belong to?
The Giant Pitta (Hydrornis caeruleus) belongs to the Pittidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Giant Pitta eat?
The Giant Pitta is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Giant Pitta migrate?
The Giant Pitta is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Giant Pitta endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Giant Pitta make?
1 real field recording of the Giant 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 Giant Pitta's range?
The Giant Pitta has a mapped global range of about 357,000 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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Guides for this bird
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