Pitta-like Ground-Roller

Atelornis pittoides

Chunky, long-legged, colorful bird. White shoulder marks are conspicuous in flight. Less shy and more approachable than the other ground-rollers. Found in eastern and northern rainforest and in adjacent scrub. Feeds in the understory, avoiding disturbance by fleeing on the ground or making short flights. Song is a quick “bwuup” note that is repeated slowly, delivered from a perch in the mid-story. Lacks the intricate scaly marks of Scaly Ground-Roller and the rufous head and body of Rufous-headed Ground-Roller. 

识别特征

The pitta-like ground roller is a small and slender member of the family, 25 to 29 cm (9.8–11.4 in) long and weighing 74–114 g (2.6–4.0 oz). It has a cobalt-blue head with a black mask and a white supercilium and throat, which is bordered in blue. The upperparts are bronzy green and the belly is white with buff flanks, and the breast and back have a rufous band.

分类信息

学名
Atelornis pittoides
命名信息
(Lafresnaye, 1834)
Coraciiformes
Brachypteraciidae
Atelornis

分布与栖息地

The pitta-like ground roller is endemic to the eastern half of Madagascar, from the extreme north to the southern edge, and has the widest distribution of any member of the family. It also has a wider range of habitats that it is prepared to occupy, being found in all natural rainforest types on the island from sea-level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), although it is commonest between 800–1,600 m (2,600–5,200 ft). It can also appear in smaller numbers in degraded secondary forest. It is generally non-migratory but changes in numbers linked to the weather have been noted so some undescribed movements may be happening.

迁徙
Resident species

行为

The pitta-like ground roller is terrestrial and feeds on the ground, taking a range of prey, particularly insects such as ants, beetles, cockroaches and butterflies. It also takes worms and small reptiles such as chameleons and frogs. It hunts by standing motionless and watching, followed by short runs to take a new position. Once prey is located it sallies or runs towards it to take it.<p>The pitta-like ground roller is a seasonal breeder, with most activity happening between October and February. It nests in a cavity dug into an earth bank, usually 50 to 100 cm (20–39 in) deep, which ends in a chamber 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter. The female incubates the two to four shiny white eggs alone, although the male may feed her during the incubation period. Both parents feed the chicks.

保护状况

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

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