The Green-breasted Pitta of Uganda
The Green-breasted Pitta of Uganda:The beautiful green-breasted pitta (Pitta reichenowi) is a top bird species in Kibale Forest National Park from the family Pittidae. It is one of the only two Pitta species in Africa and is found in the deep forests of the tropics. It is the highlight of Kibale Forest National Park and attracts quite a big number of nature lovers, especially birders, for its sightings in this tropical rain forest.
Characteristics
The plumage is very similar to that of the African pitta, but the breast is green, and the throat is bordered by a black line. Immatures have duller, darker plumage and a brownish olive breast; however, it occurs at altitudes between 1,000 and 1,400 meters (3,300 and 4,600 feet), respectively.
Green-breasted Pitta (Pitta reichenowi), 18 cm, 7″. Very similar to the African pitta, but with a green breast and a whitish throat bordered below with black. Immature bird species are duller and darker than adults with olive-brown breasts.
It is commonly found and a very uncommon resident of forest interiors in West and South Uganda at 1,100–1,400 m. Voice Calls from a horizontal branch in the forest midstorey, a short repeated ‘p-brrup,’ are usually accompanied by a bob or small jump. Unknown until recently, the call is quite different from that of the African pitta.
Uganda is one of the top destinations that offer visitors, especially birdwatchers, the best of the avian life, with unique bird species, including Africa’s most sought-after species. Travellers enjoy exciting and fabulous sightings of the mythical Green-breasted Pitta in full display while exploring the depths of Kibale Forest National Park.
Additional highlights included the Shoebill, the Papyrus Gonolek, the Fox’s Weaver, the rare Ring-necked and Nahan’s Francolin, the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, the White-naped Pigeon, the Ituri Batis, the Rufous-sided Broadbill, and a plethora of Albertine Rift endemics that included the Purple-breasted Sunbird, Neumann’s and Grauer’s Warblers, and the gorgeous Dusky Crimsonwing. Uganda has proved, yet again, why it has been and always will be one of the world’s best birding destinations!
What makes it differ from the African pitta
The Green-breasted Pitta of Uganda: The African Pitta (Pitta angolensis) is striking and distinctive, with a boldly marked head, green back, blue shoulders, and red belly. In flight, it shows a white patch at the base of the primaries and bright blue shoulders and rump.
Best identified from the Green-breasted Pitta by the tawny-buff breast. Immature, duller than adults with buffy-pink vent. Birds in East Africa are of the race longipennis. Extremely shy; often on the ground within dense cover and stands motionless for long periods.
Breeds in southeastern Tanzania from December to April; elsewhere migratory, occurring in small numbers from northern to western Uganda and coastal Kenya, May–Sep. The call is a loud, far-carrying, and explosive quoip (given from a lateral branch in mid-canopy and coinciding with a jump). Notes formed are identical and spaced every few seconds. On migration, it makes a low croaking sound.
