Pittas, Broadbills and Asities

A comprehensive guide to the true jewels of tropical Old World undergrowth – the pittas, along with their relatives the broadbills and asities

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Pittas, broadbills and asities include some of the most beautiful, elusive and sought-after birds in the world.

Inhabitants of tropical and subtropical forests of the Old World, pittas are medium-sized insectivorous terrestrial birds. Most are brilliantly coloured, and rather thrush like in their behaviour. They are 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 pittas currently recognised largely occur from Asia through Wallacea, New Guinea and Australia, with two (perhaps three) in Africa.

Broadbills are typically chunky, docile birds with large heads, broad flattened beaks and short legs. They are also generally colourful, but they are not terrestrial and are mostly sociable. 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 asities form a family endemic to Madagascar. Of the four species, two are similar to broadbills, with the other two appearing more similar to sunbirds. Breeding males have facial wattles (as do two of the broadbill species).

The first monograph of these birds was published in 1996. This book, by the same author, is its follow-up. Completely revised and update, it is the product of more than 25 years of further research and study. Pittas, Broadbills and Asities draws together a wealth of material from both the literature and from unpublished sources to provide the ultimate reference to these birds, from identification and taxonomy to habitat requirements, biology and ecology, accompanied by a stunning photographic selection, and the art of Martin Woodcock.