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15

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
Weight: 80-100 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Noisy Pitta at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "versicolor"

ADULT

Sex unknown

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

Close-up lateral 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]

Noisy Pitta foraging in leaf litter; note the iridescence of the turquoise feathers
[Iluka NR, NSW, May 2014]

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

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_20150328.mp3 versicolor
(NE NSW)
Territorial call (male)? © MD
 
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.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.