Pittas, Broadbills and Asities

Second Edition

Frank Lambert, Martin Woodcock

• Publisher: Helm
• Year: 2026
• Edition: 2
• eBook ISBN:
  9781472984005
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Zoology
• Index: Biological Sciences

The complete guide to these jewels of the tropical Old World undergrowth

Inhabiting tropical and subtropical forests of the Old World, pittas, broadbills and asities include some of the most beautiful, elusive and sought-after birds on the planet. Pittas are medium-sized, insectivorous terrestrial birds that are rather thrushlike in their behaviour. Most are brilliantly coloured, generally solitary, and have a well-deserved reputation for secretive, skulking habits, adding to the challenge of seeing them in their often dark environment. The 52 species of pitta largely occur from Asia through Wallacea to New Guinea and Australia, with two (perhaps three) species in Africa.

Broadbills are very different to pittas, being typically chunky birds with large heads, broad flattened beaks and short legs. The majority are colourful and sociable, but none are terrestrial. Three are highly frugivorous, but the others are largely insectivorous. They form a diverse group of 18 species in nine genera, of which four species are confined to Africa, with the rest in Asia.

The four species of asities form an endemic Madagascan family. Two species are similar to broadbills, but the other two resemble sunbirds, even in their feeding habits. Breeding males have facial wattles (as do two broadbill species).

The first monograph of these three groups was published in 1996; this book, by the same author, is its follow-up. Completely revised and updated, it draws together a wealth of material from the literature and from online and unpublished sources to provide the ultimate reference to these fascinating birds, from taxonomy and identification to habitat requirements, biology and ecology, accompanied by a stunning photographic selection, and the art of Martin Woodcock.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Glossary and Abbreviations
• Style and Layout of the Book
• Pittas, Broadbills and Asities: an Overview
• Introduction
• Phylogenetic Relationships
• Classifcation
• Biogeographic History and Distribution
• Evolutionary Ecology of Broadbills and Asities
• Distinguishing Characteristics of Pittas, Broadbills and Asities
• Food and Foraging
• Social and Breeding Behaviour
• Nesting and Parental Care
• Longevity
• Migration and Other Movements
• Threats and Conservation
• Philepitta
• Schlegel’s Asity Philepitta Schlegeli
• Velvet Asity Philepitta Castanea
• Neodrepanis
• Common Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis Coruscans
• Yellow-Bellied Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis Hypoxantha
• Pseudocalyptomena
• Grauer’s Broadbill Pseudocalyptomena Graueri
• Psarisomus
• Long-Tailed Broadbill Psarisomus Dalhousiae
• Corydon
• Dusky Broadbill Corydon Sumatranus
• Sarcophanops
• Visayan Wattled Broadbill Sarcophanops Samarensis
• Mindanao Wattled Broadbill Sarcophanops Steerii
• Serilophus
• Hodgson’s Broadbill Serilophus rubropygius
• Silver-Breasted Broadbill Serilophus Lunatus
• Cymbirhynchus
• Irrawaddy Broadbill Cymbirhynchus Affnis
• Black-and-Red Broadbill Cymbirhynchus Macrorhynchos
• Eurylaimus
• Javan Broadbill Eurylaimus Javanicus
• Banded Broadbill Eurylaimus Harterti
• Black-and-Yellow Broadbill Eurylaimus Ochromalus
• Smithornis
• Grey-Headed Broadbill Smithornis Sharpei
• Rufous-Sided Broadbill Smithornis Rufolateralis
• African Broadbill Smithornis Capensis
• Calyptomena
• Green Broadbill Calyptomena Viridis
• Hose’s Broadbill Calyptomena Hosii
• Whitehead’s Broadbill Calyptomena Whiteheadi
• Hydrornis
• Eared Pitta Hydrornis Phayrei
• Giant Pitta Hydrornis Caeruleus
• Rusty-Naped Pitta Hydrornis Oatesi
• Schneider’s Pitta Hydrornis Schneideri
• Blue-Naped Pitta Hydrornis Nipalensis
• Blue-Rumped Pitta Hydrornis Soror
• Malayan Banded Pitta Hydrornis Irena
• Javan Banded Pitta Hydrornis Guajanus
• Bornean Banded Pitta Hydrornis Schwaneri
• Blue-Headed Pitta Hydrornis Baudii
• Blue Pitta Hydrornis Cyaneus
• Gurney’s Pitta Hydrornis Gurneyi
• Bar-Bellied Pitta Hydrornis Elliotii
• Erythropitta
• Whiskered Pitta Erythropitta Kochi
• Philippine Pitta Erythropitta Erythrogaster
• Talaud Pitta Erythropitta Inspeculata
• Sulawesi Pitta Erythropitta Celebensis
• Sula Pitta Erythropitta Dohertyi
• Siau Pitta Erythropitta Palliceps
• Sangihe Pitta Erythropitta Caeruleitorques
• North Moluccan Pitta Erythropitta Rufventris
• South Moluccan Pitta Erythropitta Rubrinucha
• Papuan Pitta Erythropitta Macklotii
• Louisiade Pitta Erythropitta Meeki
• New Ireland Pitta Erythropitta Novaehibernicae
• Tabar Pitta Erythropitta Splendida
• New Britain Pitta Erythropitta Gazellae
• Graceful Pitta Erythropitta Venusta
• Garnet Pitta Erythropitta Granatina
• Black-and-Crimson Pitta Erythropitta Ussheri
• Blue-Banded Pitta Erythropitta Arquata
• Pitta
• African Pitta Pitta Angolensis
• ‘West African Pitta’ Pitta (reichenowi) Pulih
• Green-breasted Pitta Pitta Reichenowi
• Indian Pitta Pitta Brachyura
• Blue-Winged Pitta Pitta Moluccensis
• Mangrove Pitta Pitta Megarhyncha
• Western Hooded Pitta Pitta Sordida
• Nicobar Hooded Pitta Pitta Abbotti
• Minahasa Hooded Pitta Pitta Forsteni
• Biak Hooded Pitta Pitta Rosenbergii
• Eastern Hooded Pitta Pitta Novaeguineae
• Fairy Pitta Pitta Nympha
• Noisy Pitta Pitta Versicolor
• Ivory-Breasted Pitta Pitta Maxima
• Morotai Pitta Pitta Porotaiensis
• Ornate Pitta Pitta Concinna
• Elegant Pitta Pitta Elegans
• Banda Sea Pitta Pitta Vigorsii
• Black-Faced Pitta Pitta Anerythra
• Azure-Breasted Pitta Pitta Steerii
• Superb Pitta Pitta Superba
• Rainbow Pitta Pitta Iris
• Bibliography
• Index