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Exhausted Hooded Pitta looked after…

on 16th April 2019
Hooded Pitta safely in a box.

A Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida) was found totally exhausted by Alaric Ng in early April. He placed it safely in a cardboard box and it subsequently recovered.

Rescued pitta recovered…

This is an uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant that arrives in Singapore as early as November to peak in December. It can be seen up to early May. This specimen may well be a passage migrant on the way back from Sumatra or Java to rest in Singapore before flying north.

…standing still and not even moving a muscle…

“On day 1, the bird was still lifeless. Tried to feed it with mealworms and crickets. But I’m not sure it ate any. No water intake too I guess. Standing still and not even moving a muscle,” wrote Alaric.

…testing its wings…

“On day 2, it was much better, head turned around but still standing still and not moving. I tried to let it drink some water by wetting its beak. Wings started to flap a little. No intake of food I guess. On day 3 the bird was much more active. Jumping around and flapping wings. So it should be ready to be released.”

…and off it flew to freedom.

The Hooded Pitta subsequently flew off… to eventually find its way home in the north.

Alaric Ng
Singapore
10th April 2019

This post is a cooperative effort between Birds, Insects N Creatures Of Asia and BESG to bring the study of birds and their behaviour 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.

Other posts by YC Wee

One Response

  1. Just in case anyone has to care for a Pitta again, please note that a large proportion of their natural diet consists of earthworms. This is known to aviculturalists.
    You can serve the worms in a shallow dish, complete with soil. It is natural for the Pittas to swallow some soil along with the worms.
    Feeding of worms with soil is also practiced by breeders of Shama Thrushes, Magpie Robins and other songbirds that frequently forage on the ground.
    Among the various Pitta species, the Hooded Pitta is the one most commonly seen in aviculture. Though no Pitta is considered an easy aviary subject, the Hooded is less fussy than the other species and will soon adapt to consuming commercially available bird food.

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