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Adult Eared Pittas feeding chicks in the nest

on 7th October 2016

PittaE-m [Arne Wuensche]

The Eared Pitta (Anthocincla phayrei) is an uncommon resident in Southeast Asia. Arne Wuensche documented a pair of adults feeding two chicks in the nest – the male seen in the image above and the female below.

PittaE-f worms [Arne Wuensche]

According to Erritzoe (2003), the nest is globular with a side entrance, loosely built with roots, leaves and grass on the ground (above). The female lays a clutch of four eggs.

PittaE-ch worms [Arne Wuensche]

Both the male and the female fed the chicks with worms at the nest (above). In the video below, the female can be seen picking up the fecal sac from one of the chicks to be disposed some distance from the nest.

The second video below gives a close-up view of one of the two chicks in the nest having difficulty swallowing the long worms that were fed to it earlier.

Arne Wuensche
Thailand
13th September 2016

Reference:
Erritzoe, J. (2003). Family Pittidae (pittas). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Christie, D. A. eds. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 8. Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Editions, Barcelona. Pp.106-160.

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behavior through photography and videography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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