pit⋅ta
[pit-uh] 
| any of several brilliantly colored, passerine birds of the family Pittidae, inhabiting dark, Old World, tropical forests. |
1830–40; < Telugu piṭṭa bird
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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| pit·ta (pĭt'ə) n. Any of several brightly colored perching birds of the family Pittidae that live in forests of Asia, Australia, and Africa and have a strong bill, short tail, and long legs. [Telugu piṭṭa, bird.] |
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Pitta
Pit"ta\ (p[i^]t"t[.a]), n. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of a large group of bright-colored clamatorial birds belonging to Pitta, and allied genera of the family Pittid[ae]. Most of the species are varied with three or more colors, such as blue, green, crimson, yellow, purple, and black. They are called also ground thrushes, and Old World ant thrushes; but they are not related to the true thrushes. Note: The pittas are most abundant in the East Indies, but some inhabit Southern Asia, Africa, and Australia. They live mostly upon the ground, and feed upon insects of various kinds.Cite This Source
pitta
any of about 23 species of Old World birds constituting the family Pittidae. All are stub tailed, long legged, and short necked. They have a rather stout bill and are 15-27 centimetres (6-10 12 inches) in length. Pittas faintly resemble thrushes and are sometimes known as jewelthrushes. The sexes may be alike or unlike in appearance. Most species are found in the Indo-Malayan region, some ranging to the Solomon Islands; four occur in Australia, two in Africa. The Indian pitta (P. brachyura) is typically colourful, with shimmering blue wing plumage. The blue-winged pitta (P. moluccensis) is common from Burma to Sumatra, and the fairy pitta (P. nympha) breeds in Japan, Korea, and eastern China but winters further south. The three species appear quite similar and may actually be conspecific. Other pittas are also brightly coloured, with some having red, yellow, or purple markings.
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