Eastern Hooded Pitta Pitta novaeguineae Scientific name definitions

The Eastern Hooded Pitta is one of two hooded pittas endemic to the New Guinea region, where it occurs through much of the mainland, as well as on the West Papuan islands of Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta, Misool), Karkar, Crown, Numfor, and the Aru Islands, and the Crown, Long and Tokokiwa Islands, off the western tip of New Britain; the other species is the restricted-range Biak Hooded Pitta (Pitta rosenbergii). Three subspecies are recognized across New Guinea, but differences between them are comparatively minor. On the other hand, compared to other members of the Pitta sordida complex (previously treated as a single species, now as five!), differences in genetics, vocalizations, and morphology are all more or less marked. Principally a lowland species, found below 500 m (but less frequently up to 1,200 m), Eastern Hooded Pitta is readily identified throughout its range: the green body plumage, all-black head, and bright blue wing and uppertail coverts easily distinguish it from all other sympatric pittas.