Papuan Pitta

1. Bright red belly with a broad blue breast band bordered in black

2. Black face and throat, chestnut nape, and green upperparts

3. Plump, round body with long legs and a short tail

Papuan Pittas are primarily insectivorous, feeding on insects, earthworms, snails, and other small invertebrates found by turning over leaves on the forest floor. They are mostly solitary and highly secretive. Breeding in Australia occurs from October to February. Their nests are domed with a side entrance and are usually built above ground in tree forks, vine tangles, or on stumps, likely to reduce predation risk. Both parents share incubation and care for the young. The species is generally sedentary, but some individuals may move seasonally between Australia and southern New Guinea, although details of these movements are still being studied.

The Papuan Pitta inhabits lowland and foothill rainforests and closed gallery forests in far northern Queensland, especially in the Iron Range area of Cape York Peninsula. It favours areas with thick leaf litter and dense understory, where it forages on the ground. The best chance to observe this elusive species is at dawn or dusk when it is most active and vocal. Its mournful, whistled call often signals its presence before it is seen. After rainfall, these birds become more visible as they search for prey in the moist forest floor.