If there’s one family of birds that will get birdwatchers pulses racing, then it’s definitely the pittas. These stunningly beautiful yet highly elusive birds are much in demand by birders and photographers the world over. Several types, especially the rare and endemic ones, are more sought-after than the rest. And the pittas of Sabah are undoubtedly high on that most wanted list.
A Guide to the Pittas of Sabah
This article aims to present a general overview of the pittas of Sabah for the benefit of anyone interested in these exquisite birds. Each species entry comes with a photo (taken in Sabah, unless stated otherwise), a description of the bird, and where to see the species in Sabah.
Generally speaking, all the pittas of Sabah live in forested habitats, where they hop along the forest floor. Despite their bright plumages, pittas are often frustratingly difficult to spot. Instead, the best way to detect their presence is by listening to their song/calls. Identifying pitta vocalisations is an excellent skill to learn when searching for pittas.
Number of species
There are eight species of pittas occurring in Sabah. Two species are migrants, while the rest are residents. Additionally, one species is a Sabah endemic.
For comparison:
- Borneo has 9 species, 4 of which are endemic. All 4 Bornean endemics occur in Sabah.
- Peninsular Malaysia has 7 species, 3 of which don’t occur on Borneo.
- One species, the Garnet Pitta, occurs in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak but not Sabah.
Compared to other locations within the region:
- The Philippines has 4, plus 2 vagrants.
- The Sulawesi archipelago has 8
- Java has 3
- Sumatra has 8
- Thailand has 14
- Vietnam has 9
There are 44 total pitta species in the world. They mainly range across tropical Asia and Australasia; nevertheless, two species occur in Africa.
(All info in this section is from the Avibase checklist for the corresponding countries/regions).
Taxonomy of the pittas of Sabah
All pittas are from the family Pittidae, which are, in turn, part of the perching birds order Passeriformes.
The pittas of Sabah can be further divided into three groups according to their genus:
- Genus Erythropitta:
- Black-crowned Pitta
- Blue-banded Pitta
- Genus Hydrornis:
- Bornean Banded-Pitta
- Blue-headed Pitta
- Giant Pitta
- Genus Pitta:
- Western Hooded Pitta
- Blue-winged Pitta
- Fairy Pitta
Pittas of Sabah – Genus Erythropitta
This group of pittas tend to have extensive red in their plumage, especially on their underparts. Indeed, the genus ‘Erythropitta’ translates as ‘red pitta’.
1) Black-crowned Pitta (Erythropitta ussheri)
The first is Sabah’s endemic pitta (which possibly occurs at the Sarawak border). It has a black head and breast with a bright blue line above the eyes. The back is dark blue, whereas the belly is bright crimson.
The song is a long whistle, becoming louder towards the end.
Where to see it in Sabah:
It is a relatively common resident of lowland primary and mature secondary forests. It is regularly seen at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) and Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
2) Blue-banded Pitta (Erythropitta arquata)
Bornean endemic. Orange-red head and underparts, contrasting with greenish-blue wings. A blue ‘necklace’ is across the breast, giving the bird its common name. Finally, a blue line starts immediately behind the eye, reaching to the back of the head.
Its song is a whistle similar to the Black-crowned Pitta, but more monotone overall and ends abruptly.
Confusingly, the song of the Black-crowned Pitta and Blue-banded Pitta are also similar to an unrelated species – the Malaysian Rail-Babbler. Have a listen, and see if you can hear the subtle differences.
Where to see it in Sabah:
It is relatively uncommon and generally quite elusive. Its favourite habitat is submontane and hillslope forests, especially areas with fallen trees and bamboo.
The ‘easiest’ way to see this elusive species is at bird hides, one near Tawau and another near the Menara Kayangan, Lahad Datu. Bestaria Eco-tourism at Telupid (Bornean Peacock-pheasant hide) also has a hide for this bird. Otherwise, known locations for this bird include Tawau Hills, Tabin, and Danum Valley.
Pittas of the Genus Hydrornis
Species in this genus are notable because, unlike other pittas, they show clear sexual dimorphism. This means that the sexes look different.
1) Bornean Banded-Pitta (Hydrornis schwaneri)
A Bornean endemic, and certainly one of the most beautiful pittas of Sabah. The males have bright yellow underparts with fine black bands and a dark blue patch on the belly. The females lack the blue belly patch and are duller overall, especially on their underparts. Both sexes have striking black-and-yellow head markings and a blue tail.
The song is a one note ‘powww…’. It also gives out ‘prrrr…’ calls.
Where to see it in Sabah:
Uncommon resident. Its habitat is lowland, hillsloped submontane forests. The best place to see and photograph this bird is the Trusmadi Hides near Tambunan. Otherwise, look for them at Tabin or Danum Valley.
2) Blue-headed Pitta (Hydrornis baudii)
Bornean endemic. The males are drop-dead gorgeous, with reddish-brown back, deep-blue underparts, bright blue crown, and contrasting white throat and wingbar. On the other hand, the females are reddish-brown throughout, with only the tail being blue.
Its song is a three-note ‘puh-whi-youuuu…’
Where to see it in Sabah:
Locally common resident. Lives in lowland primary and mature secondary forests. Two good places to see this pitta are Tabin Wildlife Reserve and Maliau Basin, which are relatively common and tame.
It is rated vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN.
3) Giant Pitta (Hydrornis caeruleus)
The ‘holy grail’ of pittas, since it’s so difficult to find. Much larger than the other pittas of Sabah. Males are cerulean blue above, with white face and underparts. A black eye stripe and a thin black line across the breast. Females have brown upperparts instead and a blue tail.
The song is a mournful whistle ‘wheeeoooou…’
Where to see it in Sabah:
Sabah’s rarest resident pitta is highly elusive since it’s very shy. Lives in lowland primary forests and roam much larger territory than other pittas. Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve are good places to search for this pitta. Occasionally, it turns up at other forested locations, such as Telupid and Kinabatangan.
Read about our ‘last-gasp’ encounter with this species at Tabin in October 2024 at the link below:
The Pitta pittas
Pittas from this genus generally have green upperparts and variable amounts of blue on the wings. The migratory species are all within this genus.
1) Western Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida)
A fairly widespread species, ranging from the Himalayas eastwards into Borneo and the Philippines. Green overall, with red ‘underpants’ and a metallic blue slash on the wings. The head is black – the so-called ‘hood’. In Bornean birds, the hood is all black, whereas in Peninsular Malaysia, there is a brown stripe on the crown.
The song is a simple ‘whew-whew…’.
Where to see it in Sabah:
A common resident prefers lowland primary or mature secondary rainforests. The RDC in Sepilok is a reliable place to see them. They’re also commonly seen along the Kinabatangan River, especially during the night walks.
2) Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis)
Another widespread species, it has green upperparts and orange-brown underparts. Its namesake blue wings are especially noticeable during flight. Additionally, there’s a broad black eye-stripe and a sharply contrasting white throat.
Its song is a slurred ‘wheeeou-wheeeou…’.
Where to see it in Sabah:
A migrant to Borneo, visiting during the northern winter, October until April. Unlike other pittas, this one may occur at typical locations, such as gardens and plantations, especially during migration.
According to eBird records, the Blue-winged is scarce in Sabah, with less than 100 sightings. Theoretically, this species may occur in any of the lowland forests within Sabah and even on the islands on the northwest coast.
3) Fairy Pitta (Pitta nympha)
Saving the best for last since this is the rarest of the pittas of Sabah. It resembles the blue-winged Pitta but with white underparts instead and a white line immediately above the eye. Also, it has a shorter bill and less blue on the wings.
Where to see it in Sabah:
A rare winter visitor migrating from the Far East and Taiwan during the northern winter. Very few records in Sabah, with the most famous sighting at the RDC in October 2022. You’ll need to be exceptionally lucky to see this pitta in Sabah!
Unfortunately, this species is threatened and rated vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN.
Conclusion
Sabah is a magnet for birdwatchers worldwide, and the pittas are undoubtedly one of the main reasons for this. The undeniable beauty of the pittas of Sabah is hard to rival. Hence, it’s easy to see why they attract so much attention and admiration from birders and photographers alike. Despite their elusive nature, searching for them is certainly worth the effort.
REFERENCES
Phillipps, Q. & Phillipps, K. (2014). Phillips’ Field Guide To The Birds of Borneo. Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan (Third edition). John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.
Puan, C.L., Davison, G. & Lim, K.C. (2020). Birds of Malaysia. Covering Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo and Singapore. Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
