Colorful Western Hooded Pittas are highly recognizable. The name comes from its bright emerald-green body and black hood-like head. Its blue wings and bright red lower belly make it stand out. This color scheme makes the Western Hooded Pitta one of its most attractive birds.
This species is distributed throughout Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua New Guinea. Western Hooded Pittas prefer tropical and subtropical woods, often in lowlands and occasionally in mangroves or plantations. These birds feed and build nests in deep foliage to avoid predators.
The ground-dwelling Western Hooded Pitta forages on the forest floor. It flips leaves and detritus to seek insects, worms, and snails. Although brightly colored, these birds are elusive and often hide in dense vegetation. They lay 2–5 eggs in well-concealed earth nests throughout breeding season.
These lines show the Western Hooded Pitta’s gorgeous appearance and unusual habits.