Genus: Melampitta
Description
Two pitta-like species from New Guinea, both with black plumage and red or brown eyes.
Taxonomy
Melampitta is a genus in the family Melampittidae.
The two species of Melampitta were traditionally believed to belong in the Bird-of-Paradise family Paradisaeidae. Some recent research suggested they aren't birds of paradise and might not even be related to each other. Some believe that both are actually logrunners while others believe the Greater Melampitta is actually a Pitohui because it is believed to be poisonous.
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| M. lugubris | Lesser Melampitta | ||
| M. gigantea | Greater Melampitta | ||
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2016. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2016, with updates to August 2016. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Melampitta. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 12 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Melampitta
Pages in category ‘Melampitta’
The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total.
