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Eared Pitta Hydrornis phayrei Scientific name definitions

Johannes Erritzoe
Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020
Text last updated January 1, 2003

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Originally Appeared in

HBW Alive

Field Identification

20–24 cm. Male is plain red-brown above, sides of forecrown yellow-ochre scaled black, central crown and nape black; face dark brown, long black-edged whitish feathers resembling horns on side of crown; wings and tail dark red-brown, outer flight-feathers with pale band, wing-coverts edged yellow-ochre; chin and upper throat white, rest of underparts rufous-buff with variable amount of black spots; iris brown; bill blackish; feet flesh-brown to pale brown. Female is duller, ear-tufts shorter, underparts more spotted. Juvenile is duller than female, with few spots below; tip of bill and base of lower mandible yellow.

Systematics History

Sometimes placed in a separate, monotypic genus Anthocincla, as it differs from other pittas in shorter legs, slightly decurved and slender bill, and longer hind claw; shows distinctive horn-like “ears”; performs an acoustic display, apparently unique in the family, with wings producing knocking sounds; foraging technique is more static, involving less constant movement about territory. Allegedly darker birds from NE Tonkin sometimes separated as race obscurus, but individual variation considerable. Monotypic.

Subspecies

Monotypic.

Distribution

NE Bangladesh, and C & SE Myanmar and W, NW & E Thailand E to S China (S Yunnan) and S to Indochina (S Cambodia, C Annam).

Habitat

Lowland rainforest, second growth and mixed deciduous forest and bamboo. Prefers drier areas than those occupied by H. cyaneus. Commonest below 900 m, but occurs to 1830 m in Myanmar, Thailand and China.

Movement

Resident.

Diet and Foraging

Snails. Feeds on ground among leaf litter and rotten wood of fallen tree trunks, suggesting that many different invertebrates are also taken. Commonly employs a more static foraging technique than other members of family.

Sounds and Vocal Behavior

A drawn-out whistling “whee-ow-whit”, similar to that of H. cyaneus but more drawn out; also, a short, dog-like yelp or whine as alarm and contact call.

Breeding

Recorded in Apr–Aug in Myanmar; juvenile seen in late Oct in Thailand. Nest globular, with side entrance, loosely built of roots, leaves and grass, on ground with small “path” of sticks up to entrance. Clutch 4 eggs, creamy white with dark brown spots and underlying grey-lilac spots, 27×21mm; no further information available.

Conservation Status

Conservation status on Birdlife LC Least Concern
Not globally threatened. Widespread but rare throughout most of range. Reportedly rare also in 19th century, but described as locally common in SW Cambodia in 1938 and at Nam Khueng (NC Laos) in 1940. In Thailand, most easily found nowadays at Khao Yai and Khao Soi Dao National Parks, and also present in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. Common in S Laos (Houay Bangliang) in 1995/96. Uncommon in Myanmar, Tonkin and C Annam. Very rare in China (Yunnan); possible record in 1990 on Hainan, but status there unknown. Seems to be tolerant of some habitat alteration. No hunting or commercial trading of this species has been reported. Although it is not currently considered threatened, this may perhaps be due to the fact that it has been very little studied; survey work is therefore recommended.
Distribution of the Eared Pitta - Range Map
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  • Migration
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Distribution of the Eared Pitta

eBird and Macaulay Library

Recommended Citation

Erritzoe, J. (2020). Eared Pitta (Hydrornis phayrei), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D. A. Christie, and E. de Juana, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.earpit1.01
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