Pitta megarhyncha

Pitta megarhyncha - the 'Large-beaked Little-bird'

Mangrove Pittas are a near-threatened species of pitta specialised to mangrove habitats, and also the only resident pitta in Singapore. Lok et al. (2009) cite it as being extinct on the main island though over recent years infrequent sightings of it have been made. Their shy nature doesn't help either; it makes them very hard to observe. The population is now largely restricted to offshore islands Pulau Ubin (which is largely designated as a nature park) and Pulau Tekong (which is reserved for military use). Because the majority of Singapore's original mangrove landscape has been reclaimed (and still is being reclaimed), the stability of the current population is very much at risk. Outside the country, logging for mangrove timber and urban development of coastal land also pose threats to these birds' futures.

The genus name Pitta is a Telugu word meaning "little (bird)", and the species name comes from ancient Greek words meaning "large beak", that which it uses to crush crustacean prey. Its diet also consists of other animals from snails to small frogs. The bulkier beak also helps distinguish it from similar-looking species like the more common (non-resident) Blue-winged Pitta (P. moluccensis). Their calls are a very prominent whistle-like "wi↑e↓uw-wi↑e↓uw!" which cuts through the dense mangrove environment -- males make this call to mark territory.

For further reading and references:-
Lok, A. F. S. L., Khor, K. T. N., Lim, K. C., & Subaraj, R. (2009). Pittas (Pittidae) of Singapore. _Nature in Singapore_, 2, 155-165. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/...

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrov...
Bird Society of Singapore: https://singaporebirds.com/species/ma...
E-Bird: https://ebird.org/species/manpit1/

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Available on Soundcloud:   / pitta-megarhyncha  

DAW (deprecated): www.bandlab.com/products/cakewalk

VSTis:-
Synth1; xylophone, lead synths and pads (https://daichilab.sakura.ne.jp/softsy... )
Helm; bass (https://tytel.org/helm/ )
Surge XT; lead synth (https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ )
Dexed; bells (https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/ )
Spitfire LABS Piano: https://labs.spitfireaudio.com/tape-p...
Sitala; drum machine (https://decomposer.de/sitala/ )
Steven Slate Drums 5.5; additional percussion (https://stevenslatedrums.com/ssd5/ )

Spritework was made in Aseprite: www.aseprite.org/

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