Basic Information
Scientific classification
- Chinese name: Eight-colored bird
- Scientific name: Pitta nympha, Fairy Pitta
- Classification: Songbirds
- Family and genus: Passeriformes, family Thrushidae, genus Thrush
Vital signs data
- Body length: 18 cm
- Weight: 90.2 grams
- Lifespan: 5-10 years
Significant features
A very beautiful bird with a green body, white belly, and bright red, yellow, blue, and black accents.
Distribution and Habitat
Distributed from India and Southeast Asia to Japan. They migrate to Japan in the summer, breeding in the mountains of Shikoku and Kyushu. In spring and summer, they appear in the undergrowth or bamboo forests of low-altitude mountainous areas, hopping and pecking at ground insects and earthworms, and are fast fliers. Every year in April and May, they fly from Southeast Asia or Hainan Island to the Shimen Reservoir area to court, build nests, lay eggs, and raise chicks, before returning to their original habitat with their families in August and September. Their call: During courtship, the male and female respond to each other with a whistling sound resembling "huliu-huliu-".
Appearance
It measures 18 cm in length and has vibrant plumage. Its head is chestnut brown with a yellow eyebrow stripe, a black stripe extending from the eye to the nape, and black primary flight feathers. The back and wings are emerald green, the throat is creamy white, and the central belly and undertail coverts are bright red (narrower in females). The upper edges of the wing feathers and upper tail coverts are pale blue (narrower in females). It has long legs and a short tail. The body of the rainbow lorikeet is mostly green with a white belly, and its plumage is adorned with bright red, yellow, blue, and black feathers, making it exceptionally beautiful and eye-catching, hence its name "Eight-Colored Bird."
Detailed introduction
The Fairy Pitta (scientific name: *Pitta nympha*), also known as the Fairy Pitta, is a species of bird in the family Pittatidae. It is a fully migratory bird, found in Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Brunei, mainland China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam, and North Korea. Its global range is approximately 1,170,000 square kilometers.
The Fairy Pitta has an average weight of approximately 90.2 grams. Its habitat includes plantations, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical (lowland) moist sparse scrubland, and rivers and streams. The type locality of this species is in Korea.
Its diet consists mainly of earthworms, spiders, insects, slugs, and snails. The Fairy Pitta breeds in East Asia and migrates south to Southeast Asia for the winter. Due to habitat destruction and human disturbance, such as deforestation, wildfires, hunting, trapping, and the cage bird trade, the Fairy Pitta has become rare, and its population continues to decline in most areas. It is listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
The rainbow lorikeet is prized for its vibrant plumage, making it a popular pet. However, due to increasing hunting pressures and habitat destruction, it has become a rare species. Therefore, the rainbow lorikeet is listed as an endangered species in the Asian Red Data Book of Birds. It is also listed as a rare and precious protected animal in Taiwan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the rainbow bird called that?
The rainbow lorikeet gets its name from the rich and vibrant colors of its plumage, which usually include multiple colors.
What kind of environment do rainbow lorikeets primarily live in?
The rainbow lorikeet prefers to inhabit damp forest areas, especially in subtropical and tropical regions, and likes dense thickets and forest floors.
What do rainbow lorikeets eat?
The rainbow lorikeet mainly feeds on insects, earthworms, and small invertebrates, and sometimes also eats some plant fruits and seeds.
Are rainbow lorikeets easy to observe?
Pittas are generally quite secretive, preferring to hide in dense vegetation, making them difficult to observe directly, but their distinctive calls are easy to spot.
Is the rainbow lorikeet a migratory bird?
Yes, most rainbow lorikeets are migratory birds, migrating seasonally to adapt to changes in food resources and climate.
