Whiskered pitta

Whiskered pitta
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Pittidae
Genus:	Erythropitta
Species:	E. kochi
Binomial name
Erythropitta kochi (Brüggemann, 1876)
Synonyms
Pitta kochi Brüggemann, 1876

The whiskered pitta (Erythropitta kochi) is a rare species of bird in the family Pittidae. It is endemic to Luzon in the Philippines. Along with the Azure-breasted pitta, it is one of two endemic pittas in the country. This bird is the largest pitta in the country reaching 23 cm long and 116 grams in mass. It has a brownish head, blue breast, and red belly. It has broad ash malar or "whiskers". Its natural habitat is tropical moist lowland forest and tropical moist montane forest. It is threatened by habitat loss and trapping. It is one of the most sought after birds by birdwatchers in the Philippines.

Description and taxonomy

An illustration of a Whiskered Pitta by Joseph Smit.

EBird describes the bird as "A medium-sized bird of lower-elevation montane forest floor and undergrowth on Luzon. Prefers thick undergrowth with moss, ferns, and a steep slope. Brown on the back and sides with a red belly, a blue chest, tail, and edge of the wing, rufous on the back of the head, a dark face with a pale moustache, and a pale line behind the eye. Very similar to Blue-breasted Pitta, but Whiskered usually occurs at higher elevations, has an obvious whisker on the face, and has a brown rather than green back. Song is a long, mournful downslurred note followed by several shorter ones, “doooo doo-doo-doo-doo!”."

This species is monotypic.

Ecology and behavior

Has been recorded feeding on small beetles and earth worms. There is a feeding station for this species in Mount Banahaw which is fed earthworms and mealworms. It forages on the ground, and seemingly shows a preference of moist ground. It often seen in areas where wild boar have disturbed the soil. It has been recorded on the migration funnel in Dalton Pass which possibly suggests intra-island migration or post-breeding dispersal.

Barely anything is known about its breeding habits. It is most vocal from February to June but immature birds have been seen as early as January. Nests seen around 1 meter above ground made of dead twigs, recorded nest contained 2 chicks.

Habitat and conservation status

It chiefly inhabits montane forest, tolerating degraded and selectively logged areas. Records span a wide altitudinal range of 360 to 2,200 m. However, the highest densities found at 900-1,500 m where it typically breeds. It appears to prefer closed-canopy, primary montane, oak dominated forest, frequently on steep slopes. Its movements are poorly understood. Records from south Luzon (which may refer to wintering individuals) suggest that there is some intra-island migration..

IUCN has assessed this bird as near threatened with estimates being at 10,000 to 19,999 mature individuals but was assessed as vulnerable prior to its discovery in more sites. This species' main threat is habitat loss with wholesale clearance of forest habitats as a result of logging, agricultural conversion and mining activities occurring within the range. It is also threatened by hunting in snare traps.

It occurs in a number of protected areas, including the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Mount Pulag Natural Park, Mt. Isarog, Mount Data, Mounts Banahaw–San Cristobal Protected Landscape, Angat Watershed Forest Reserve and Aurora Memorial National Park however enforcement against loggers and hunters is lax. It is also listed as CITES Appendix I.