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Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) Alternate name(s): "Dragoon-bird", "Anvil-bird", "Buff-breasted Pitta" Aboriginal name(s): Race "versicolor": "gulbang"/"guhlbang", "jahwun.gawang" [eastern bundjalung]; race "intermedia": "wangawa" [ngadjon] Size: 18-20 cm Body mass: 80-100 g

Australia: Family Group 15 Family Group 15 Table Noisy Pitta Rainbow Pitta Superb Lyrebird Albert's Lyrebird Noisy Scrub-bird Rufous Scrub-bird Rufous Bristlebird Western Bristlebird Black-tailed Treecreeper Red-browed Treecreeper White-browed Treecreeper Brown Treecreeper Rufous Treecreeper White-throated Treecreeper Eurasian Hoopoe Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Noisy Pittas the largest Australian pittas. Their head is black, with an inverted brown cap. The front (throat, chest and belly) is buff-yellow, with a black vertical stripe down the centre. The sides of the neck are also buff-yellow. The vent is red. The back is green, with a yellowish tint, to greenish-brown and with light-blue wing patches. The tail is very short. The irises are black, the bill is black and the legs and feet are greyish-pink. Juveniles have duller colours. Twitcher's tip Noisy Pittas have a buff-yellow neck and front with a black central stripe, while Rainbow Pittas have a black front and neck.

Taxonomy, classification See Noisy Pitta at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Noisy Pitta is available HERE . Noisy Pittas are found only in Australia and in southern New Guinea. There are three races of Noisy Pittas in Australia, which populate a narrow strip along the East coast of Australia, from Cape York to the Hunter River valley (Barrington Tops NP). North of Cape Melville, QLD, race "simillima" is found. Further South along the QLD coast, to the tropic of Capricorn (Yeppoon) race "intermedia" follows. Yet further South, between the tropic of Capricorn and Barrington Tops NP, NSW, one finds nominate race "versicolor". Occasionally they can also be found South of the Hunter River, e.g. in Watagans NP. Noisy Pittas are usually found in rainforest (both coastal and at higher altitude), often with dense undergrowth.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "versicolor" We first spotted a Noisy Pitta, race "versicolor", at Dorrigo NP, northern NSW, in January 2011. The solitary bird seen by us, contrary to its name, was entirely silent. They were found by us in the same location again in August 2015. B. Hensen reports spotting a Noisy Pitta, race "versicolor", at Mt. Glorious NP, near Brisbane, QLD, in January 2013. A. Ross-Taylor reports seeing Noisy Pittas, race "versicolor", at Mt. Tamborine, Tamborine NP, QLD, in August 2013. In May 2014 we saw Noisy Pittas, race "versicolor", at various locations in the Gold Coast, QLD, hinterland, including e.g. O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP. Several birds were also spotted by us at the time in Iluka NR, northern NSW. M. Mearns reports spotting a Noisy Pitta, race "versicolor", at Bunya Mountains NP, QLD, in December 2015. They were seen there again in March 2018 by M. Eaton. This location is quite far outside the species' nominal range (as listed in most field guides), which is restricted to more (near-)coastal areas. M. Eaton reports spotting a Noisy Pitta, race "versicolor", at Mount Glorius, QLD, in March 2017 and at Moggill Forest Reserve, near Anstead, QLD, in August 2017. Race "intermedia" M. Eaton reports finding Noisy Pittas, race "intermedia", at Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, in September 2020. M. Miller spotted a Noisy Pitta, race "intermedia", at Paluma, near Townsville, QLD, in November 2020. Race "simillima" B. Hensen reports spotting Noisy Pittas, race "simillima", near Julatten, QLD, in November 2018.

Photos

Race "versicolor"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[Mt Tamborine, Tamborine NP, QLD, August 2013]

Near-dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta
[Dorrigo NP, NSW, August 2015]

Near-dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Glorious, QLD, March 2017]

Dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta, typical upright stance (photo courtesy of A. Ross-Taylor)
[O'Reilly's Plateau, Lamington NP, QLD, May 2014]

Dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta basking in the sun (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Mt Glorious NP, QLD, January 2013]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Near-dorsal view of an immature Noisy Pitta - note the still pink gape; also this bird is only just starting to grow iridiscent turquoise wing feathers (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Mount Glorious, QLD, March 2017]

Race "intermedia"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Full-frontal view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Near-lateral view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Lateral view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Paluma Rainforest, near Townsville, QLD, September 2020]

Race "simillima"

ADULT

Sex unknown

Near-lateral view of a Noisy Pitta in leaf litter (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Iron Range NP, QLD, December 2018]

Lateral view of a Noisy Pitta in leaf litter (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Noisy Pitta in leaf litter (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta; note the blue tail coverts (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Locally migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary

Noisy Pittas are altitudinal migrants. They spend the breeding season in rainforest at altitudes of up to 1500 m but descend to lower altitudes outside the breeding season.

Noisy Pitta in very open surroundings - on a sealed road (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of Noisy Pitta in aggressive posture towards a nearby Bar-shouldered Dove (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Lateral view of Noisy Pitta "locomotion" - they don't run, but hop (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta in the upright "alert" stance (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Food, Diet

Noisy Pitta picking up (dead?) insects from the surface of a sealed road (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Noisy Pitta swallowing its prey (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Julatten, QLD, November 2018]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

Noisy Pittas will usually call only during the breeding season.

noispit_me_20241008.m4a	versicolor (SE QLD)	Territorial call (male)?	© ME
noispit_me_20241008_2.m4a	versicolor (SE QLD)	Territorial call (male)? (Q&A)	© ME
noispit_me_20200927_2.m4a	intermedia (N QLD)	Territorial call (male)?	© ME
noispit_me_20200927.m4a	intermedia (N QLD)	Territorial calls (male)?	© ME

More Noisy Pitta sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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