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The Banded Pitta – a Gorgeous Tropical Aviary Bird – Part 1

Posted by: Frank Indiviglio in Bird Species Profiles, General Bird Care, Wild Birds August 12, 2010 Comments Off on The Banded Pitta – a Gorgeous Tropical Aviary Bird – Part 1 4601 Views

Banded PittaThe word “Exquisite” popped into my head when I caught my first glimpse of a Banded or Van den Bock’s Pitta (Pitta guajana) hopping through the underbrush in a Bronx Zoo exhibit.  Years later, I had the good fortune to work with this beautiful ground-dweller, and my enthusiasm for them soared.  Although still uncommon in captivity, the Banded Pitta is a species worth aspiring to – definitely a bird to keep as a “goal” while honing your skills and expanding your collection.

Description

Words fail when one tries to describe the Banded Pitta – light and dark blues, orange, red, yellow, black, brown, white and gray all make their appearance in the male’s plumage.  Hens, though more somberly clad, are no less attractive. 

I was immediately struck by this little bird’s “posture”, or bearing.  The legs are set way back on the body, causing the Banded Pitta to appear very much like a minute crane or heron.  Although standing only 8 inches tall, a stocky build and “cocky attitude” makes it appear a good deal larger.

Range and Habitat

Banded Pittas occupy a huge range, being found in moist forests from Thailand south through Malaysia and Indonesia to the Greater Sunda Islands.  They stay to the underbrush and forest clearings, and forage almost entirely on the ground.

Housing

Pittas are rather delicate captives – I’ve always viewed their care as being similar, in a sense, to that needed by tropical reptiles and amphibians. Naturalistic habitats are essential for success with these shy beauties.  A quiet, heavily planted outdoor aviary or bird room are really the only options for captive Banded Pittas.

Banded Pittas spend most of their time on the ground, and fall victim to foot ailments if not kept on a thick layer of peat, dead leaves, sphagnum moss and similar organic materials.  Many of the moss-based products designed for use with reptiles and amphibians are ideal.  Hard, packed soil will quickly bring them to grief, so attention to soil composition, watering and other “gardening chores” is critical.

Males utilize dead logs as posts from which to survey their territories, and some individuals prefer to roost several feet above-ground at night.

Moisture

Banded Pitta FemaleMore so than with most other terrestrial birds, moisture levels must be monitored carefully in Banded Pitta aviaries.  In the wild, they are always associated with damp habitats, and soon develop skin and foot problems if kept in arid enclosures.

Their “delight” when the aviary is sprayed with a hose usually assures that Pitta owners do not regard this task as a chore!

Diet

Banded Pittas are entirely carnivorous, and here again their captive care seems to parallel that of certain reptiles and amphibians more than it does “typical” pet birds.

A highly varied diet is absolutely essential – they will decline rapidly in condition and expire if a good deal of effort is not put into this aspect of their care.   I maintained insect traps to help meet the needs of the Banded Pittas under my care; a Zoo Med Bug Napper should be considered by all Pitta-keepers.

I’ll cover the specifics of Pitta feeding in Part II of this article.

Further Reading

This article by a Pitta-watcher in Bali provides detailed info and some beautiful photos and drawings.

Don’t rely on photos alone – please take a look at this video of a gorgeous male in the wild (Thailand).

 

 

 

Banded Pitta images referenced from wikipedia and originally posted by Doug Janson

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I believe that I was born with an intense interest in animals, as neither I nor any of my family can recall a time when I was not fascinated by creatures large and small. One might imagine this to be an unfortunate set of circumstances for a person born and raised in the Bronx, but, in actuality, quite the opposite was true. Most importantly, my family encouraged both my interest and the extensive menagerie that sprung from it. My mother and grandmother somehow found ways to cope with the skunks, flying squirrels, octopus, caimans and countless other odd creatures that routinely arrived un-announced at our front door. Assisting in hand-feeding hatchling praying mantises and in eradicating hoards of mosquitoes (I once thought I had discovered “fresh-water brine shrimp” and stocked my tanks with thousands of mosquito larvae!) became second nature to them. My mother went on to become a serious naturalist, and has helped thousands learn about wildlife in her 16 years as a volunteer at the Bronx Zoo. My grandfather actively conspired in my zoo-buildings efforts, regularly appearing with chipmunks, boa constrictors, turtles rescued from the Fulton Fish Market and, especially, unusual marine creatures. It was his passion for seahorses that led me to write a book about them years later. Thank you very much, for a complete biography of my experience click here.
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