Hydrornis nipalensis
The Blue-naped Pitta, *Hydrornis nipalensis*, is a medium-sized, strikingly colored passerine, measuring approximately 20-25 cm (8-10 inches) in length and weighing around 100-150 grams. Males boast a spectacular bright sky-blue crown and nape, contrasting with an olive-green back and wings, often showing iridescent flashes. Their underparts transition from a buffy-ochre chest to a richer reddish-brown on the belly, while a prominent black line often streaks from the lores through the eye. Fe...
This species exclusively inhabits dense, moist evergreen and broadleaf forests, preferring areas with rich undergrowth, bamboo, and steep terrain. It is typically found at elevations ranging from 300 to 2,500 meters (1,000-8,200 feet), with some altitudinal migration to lower elevations during co...
The diet primarily consists of ground-dwelling invertebrates, including beetles, ants, termites, worms, and snails, supplemented occasionally by small amphibians or reptiles. It forages by probing and sifting through leaf litter and damp soil.
The Blue-naped Pitta is a highly secretive, diurnal bird, spending the majority of its time foraging on the dark, damp forest floor, rarely perching high or venturing into the open. It is most active at dawn and dusk, though its loud calls can be heard throughout the day, especially during the br...
The Blue-naped Pitta has an extensive but fragmented distribution across the Himalayan foothills and Southeast Asia, primarily inhabiting montane and submontane evergreen forests. Its breeding range extends from eastern Nepal, through Bhutan and Northeast India, into Bangladesh, Myanmar, the extr...
Least Concern
- Often called one of the "jewels of the forest" due to its incredibly vibrant, iridescent plumage, particularly the male's sky-blue crown. - Despite its striking colors, the Blue-naped Pitta is notoriously difficult to observe, spending almost all its time hidden in dense undergrowth on the fore...