Context:
Odisha forest officials have recently sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds in the first ever census conducted of these exotic and colourful birds in the country.
Relevance:
GS III: Environment and Ecology
Dimensions of the Article:
- Mangrove Pitta Bird
- Passerine Birds
Mangrove Pitta Bird:
- The Mangrove Pitta is a species of passerine bird in the Pittidae family.
- Its scientific name is Pitta megarhyncha.
- It is native to Southeast Asia and South Asia and can be found in countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.
- The bird is commonly found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects.
- Mangrove Pittas have a distinct appearance, with a black head with brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff under-parts, and reddish vent area.
- Its conservation status is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Passerine Birds:
- Passerines or passeriforms are birds that belong to the order Passeriformes, which is the largest order of birds, containing more than half of all species.
- They are also referred to as perching birds or songbirds.
- Passerine birds are terrestrial and can be found on all continents except Antarctica.
- They are characterized by their feet which have three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward, allowing them to perch on branches.
- Many passerines are known for their ability to produce songs, and their songs are used for communication and attracting mates.
- Examples of passerine birds include finches, sparrows, thrushes, warblers, and crows.
-Source: The Hindu
