Noisy Pitta

1. Bright green wings and blue patches on the shoulders and rump

2. Chestnut crown and black face with golden-buff underparts and red under the tail

3. Rounded, stocky body and strong legs for hopping

Noisy Pittas are ground foragers, feeding mainly on insects, snails, worms, spiders, and occasionally fruit. They are famous for using stones or logs as “anvils” to break open snail shells, leaving piles of broken shells at favoured spots. The breeding season occurs mainly from October to January, when pairs build dome-shaped nests with side entrances, hidden among roots, rocks, or dense vegetation close to the ground. Clutches typically contain 2–4 eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and care of the chicks, which fledge after about two weeks`.`

Noisy Pittas inhabit rainforests, wet sclerophyll forests, and dense coastal thickets along the east coast of Australia, from Cape York Peninsula in Queensland south to the Hunter Region in New South Wales, and into southern Papua New Guinea. They prefer areas with thick undergrowth and abundant leaf litter, often near gullies and streams. In winter, some birds move toward coastal or lower elevation habitats, including mangroves and coastal forests. Listening for their distinctive call is often the best way to locate them, as they are more often heard than seen, especially at dawn and dusk.