I was taking a walk in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve yesterday (7 Sep 2008) when I saw a flash of blue landing on the muddy ground among some mangrove trees. Taking a closer look, I realised that it's a pitta!
Showed LK the photo later, and confirmed that it is a mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha). It was just there hopping around, picking up things along the way. Seems like it was feeding on something among the mud.
According to the "An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Singapore", the mangrove pitta is a rare resident in Singapore. It's globally near-threatened due to loss of habitat.
The mangrove pitta looks very similar to the blue-winged pitta, which is an uncommon winter visitor to Singapore. The latter, however, has a shorter beak, and a wider and darker black band on top of its head.
Seeing this rare bird certainly made my day at Sungei Buloh! :)
Monday, September 08, 2008
Mangrove Pitta at Sungei Buloh
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11 comments:
The pitta was seen at the boardwalk area of sungei buloh ?
One of the very few records from the mainland! There were a number of sightings from buloh i think couple of years back, but this is the first photographic confirmation
Actually there is an unpublished photographic record, in fact, of a first year bird at SBWR around the same time in 2007.
You're so so so lucky to see one! :) Have yet to see a pitta after so many years of bird watching! :(
Either one of the very very few residents left on the mainland's mangroves or a stray they came over from Johor's vanishing mangroves from the opposite side of the SP straits. More likely latter it seems
Very beautiful bird!!
Thank you for sharing this.
so awesome. but what its name in Malay? anybody knows?
Sorry, have no idea too...
Hello, I am from singapore, but apparently I think a mangrove pitta flew into my house in Bishan! It looks almost exactly liek the one in your pictures; i found ur page from googling mangrove pitta. I dont know what to do with it ! its now in a basket with a blanket. It makes a LOUD sound , goes, KAAAK KAAAK, but it has a brilliant blue colour. i thought it was a kingfisher. Should I just let it out onto the road area???!?!?!?!?! i stay along a terrace road , and actually, I hope u do read this on time, so you could offer some advice.. it doesnt seem to be able to fly that steadily yet. WHAT DO I DO WITH IT??
Hi! Thanks for leaving a note here! It could be a blue wing pitta which looks very similar except for a more distinct black band on its head, but can't say for sure unless you can send me a good photo. The mangrove pitta is usually found in the mangroves, but the blue wing pitta is a migrant and can be found in other wooded areas. If it is healthy, you can just release it in the wooded areas.
Think the Malays call it burung pachat (Madoc 1992). Pachat means leech, although it's not clear if it means the bird is leech-like or likes leeches...
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