The African pitta (Pitta angolensis), known as Brève de l’Angola in French, is a bird species from the Passeriformes order, family Pittidae. This bird species has been given the conservation status of Least Concern by the IUCN, but its population distribution has shown a decreasing trend.The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a migratory breeding resident of south-central and southern Africa from November to December and equatorial Africa for the non-breeding season between March and April. This species distribution is observed in the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Kenya, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. During the breeding season, these pitta birds build a dome-shaped nest made from twigs, plant detritus, or leaves and lay two to four eggs.The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a vibrant bird with yellow, green, blue, red, turquoise, and black feathers. This pitta bird species is difficult to spot in the dense forests or thickets, where it commonly forages among leaf litter and feeds on invertebrates by stabbing them with its beak.Passerines can be quite intriguing, and if you’re a fan, check out some facts about the cliff swallow and coal tit.
Fun African Pitta Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
African Pitta Interesting FactsWhat type of animal is an African pitta?The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a bird species found in large populations across southern, western, and south-central Africa.What class of animal does an African pitta belong to?The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) belongs to the class of Aves under the Passeriformes order, family Pittidae.How many African pittas are there in the world?The exact number of the African pitta (Pitta angolensis) bird species is unknown. However, it is commonly seen in different parts of western, southern, or south-central Africa, depending on the breeding and non-breeding season.Where does an African pitta live?During the breeding season between November and December, the African pitta (Pitta angolensis) bird is seen in south-central and southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Angola, and Zambia. African pitta birds go back to non-breeding grounds in the Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, and Gabon from March to April.What is an African pitta’s habitat?The habitat of African pitta birds from the family of Passeriformes includes dense tropical forests, evergreen forests, thickets, shrubland, moist lowland, peatlands, bogs, marshes, and swamps.Who do African pittas live with?African pitta (Pitta angolensis) birds are known to reside in a dense forest, but whether they live in pairs, alone, or in groups is unknown.How long does an African pitta live?Despite the popularity and information available about African pitta birds, there are no verified records of their lifespan.How do they reproduce?The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) breeding season is observed between November and December when this migrant bird species moves to the breeding grounds in south-central and southern Africa. This bird species performs a courtship display before mating, even if the possible partner is around 490 ft (150 m) away. They start with a loud, peculiar call ‘quoip’ and leap into the mid-canopy by opening their wings to show off the primary feathers. This pitta bird species builds a shabby dome-shaped nest from plant detritus, twigs, leaves and lines the inside with tendrils, dry leaves, and other fine material. It has a side open with a platform-like projection for landing. The nest is built at an elevation of 6.6-13.1 ft (2-4 m) and placed in the forked top sapling of leafy, thorny plants and trees especially Ziziphus, Dichrostachys, Ximenia, and Acacia.The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) female lays two to four cream-colored eggs with gray spots and deep maroon specks on the wider edge. Once the incubation period starts, the pitta species call is rarely heard because they stay silent. The chicks are underdeveloped when they are born and require extra assistance from their parents to survive. The young African pitta stays in the nest for much longer meaning the hatchlings are nidicolous.What is their conservation status? The African pitta range distribution is declining, but the IUCN has given this bird the conservation status of Least Concern.African Pitta Fun FactsWhat do African pittas look like?Male and female African pitta birds (Pitta angolensis) look alike. This pitta species has an ebony-black band, similar to the color that runs from its beak through its eyes and fades into the back of the head. The crown and throat are a salmon-pink shade that extends into a mustard-yellow breast, flanks, and neck. Some of the subspecies have a smear of olive on their upper breast. The wing coverts, mantle, and back are deep olive-green or black, with the tips colored in a metallic shade of cobalt blue or turquoise. The underneath of the tail and belly is a rich shade of crimson that fades into the light pink feather on the thighs. They have a small black tail, rounded wings, long legs, and stubby, curved beaks.* Please note that this is an image of the elegant pitta, a bird with similar features but duller colors than the African Pitta. If you have an image of the African pitta, please let us know at [email protected].How cute are they?The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) bird’s description is simply ethereal, like the scarlet macaw, especially with the display of vibrant colors. With that said, these pitta birds rank quite high on the cuteness scale.How do they communicate?There is no description of how African pitta birds communicate with each other.How big is an African pitta?The African pitta is around 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm) in length. This means it is the same size as the hooded crow but slightly smaller than the Myna.How fast can an African pitta fly?There is almost no information about the flight speed of the African pitta population.How much does an African pitta weigh?Mature African pitta (Pitta angolensis) birds from the Pittidae family have a weight range between 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g).What are the male and female names of the species?In French, the African pitta is called the Brève de l’Angola. Male and female African pitta birds do not have separate names.What would you call a baby African pitta?The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) baby is called a chick or juvenile like other birds.What do they eat?The African pitta feeds on invertebrates such as centipedes, termites, slugs, millipedes, and snails.Are they dangerous?No, the African pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a harmless passerine bird.Would they make a good pet?No, the African pitta or Angola pitta are wild birds living in the dense forests of Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and many other western and southern African countries.Did you know…African pitta birds are remarkably territorial of their foraging and breeding sites.What sound does an African pitta make?The African pitta has numerous calls. To start, they have a loud, croaking ‘quoip’ call during the breeding season. The African pitta also voices a whiny, shout-like ‘skeeow’ call and then gives a wing clap. Similarly, the pitta makes a ‘sproo’ sound followed by a hop.Where does the African pitta migrate to?The African pitta is a resident breeding migrant of Africa. During the breeding season between November to December, they migrate to south-central and southern Africa such as Tanzania. After the season ends, they return to the non-breeding grounds between March to April, including the Republic of Congo, Kenya, and Uganda.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our hermit thrush facts and metallic starling facts pages.You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable African pitta coloring pages.
What type of animal is an African pitta?
The African pitta (Pitta angolensis) is a bird species found in large populations across southern, western, and south-central Africa.
Fun African Pitta Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
Fun African Pitta Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
Fun African Pitta Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
Fun African Pitta Facts For Kids
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
What do they prey on? Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat? Carnivore
Average litter size? 2-4
How much do they weigh? 45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they? 7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they? N/A
What do they look like? Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type Feathers
What were their main threats? N/A
What is their conservation status? Least Concern
What do they prey on?
Forest invertebrates like termites, snails, slugs, centipedes, and millipedes
What do they eat?
Carnivore
Average litter size?
2-4
How much do they weigh?
45.3-3.4 oz (45.3-98 g)
How long are they?
7-7.8 in (18-20 cm)
How tall are they?
N/A
What do they look like?
Ebony black crown and face, bright yellow breast, salmon-pink throat, deep olive-green wing coverts with metallic blue tips
Skin Type
Feathers
What were their main threats?
What is their conservation status?
Least Concern
Where you’ll find them? Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
Where you’ll find them?
Shrublands, Thickets, Freshwater Wetlands, Dense Terrestrial Forests
Locations
Southern Africa
Kingdom Animalia
Genus Pitta
Kingdom
Animalia
Genus
Pitta
Class Aves
Family Passeriformes
