Observations and Recordings of Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) in Nallamala hills, Eastern ghats Andhra Pradesh
I observed this rare sightings of Indian pitta nesting, breeding on the fringes of Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary popularly known as GBM sanctuary, situated in the Nallamalais which is an offshoot of southern eastern ghats in Andhra Pradesh, India. Most of the Nallamala hills are protected under the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve. It includes mainly two sanctuaries- GBM sanctuary and Rajiv Gandhi wildlife Sanctuary. I regularly visit these forests, and got the chance to explore the area and it’s biodiversity. During a field day, incidentally I observed a pair of birds collecting dry leaves from the ground. As I see the birds, I could not hold my joy. It was an unbelievable moment. They were the elegant Indian pitta birds. Since I started bird watching, I wanted to spot a Indian pitta soon. However it took a long time for the moment to come. In Nallamala forests, there is a good biodiversity of birds and I was hoping to sight a Indian pitta. After it’s sighting I explore the area, I could spot its nest after a few days which was located on the lower branch of a grand old tree. It was a very pleasant sighting.
The Indian pitta Pitta brachyura is a passerine bird native to the Indian subcontinent. It is called “Ponnunky pitta” in Telugu: ą°Ŗą±ą°Øą±ą°Øą°ą°ą°æ ą°Ŗą°æą°ą±ą°. It’s a very rare sightings of Pitta breeding in southern India, especially in Nallamala forests of Eastern ghats.
Indian pitta is a local migratory bird with it’s prominent colours and short tail features which breeds around South West monsoon season from June to August.
Pitta uses scrub jungle for foraging. Its nests are mostly placed in the forks of the lower branches of trees and also on the ground in scrub jungle, sheltered under bushes.
They feed on insects, worms, and small invertebrates usually pick up from the ground or leaf litter. It has a distinctive two note whistling call which is heard at dawn and dusk. A video of Indian Pitta bird call is attached below.
Pitta prefers broad-leaved deciduous, and semi-deciduous forests with dense undergrowth, including moist areas dominated by bamboo, thorny bushes etc.
The nest of Indian Pitta bird is built on the ground or are mostly placed in the forks of the low branches of tree in a globular structure with a circular opening. It is made up of dry leaves, twigs, moist soil and grasses. Indian pittas roost in trees.
It breeds in the forest of Himalayas, hills of central & western India and migrates to other parts of peninsula in winter. Mostly breeding happens in North India however, nesting has been observed in South India too but very rare as per records. Rare nesting of Pitta was observed by me in Nallamala forests.
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Rupak July 2023
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