The Pitta (bird) reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Pitta (bird)

Helping orphans the way you would do it
Pittas
Image:Rainbow-Pitta.jpg
Rainbow Pitta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Passeriformes
Family:Pittidae
Genus
 Pitta
Pittas are passerine birds mainly found in tropical Asia and Australasia, although a couple of species live in Africa.

They are all similar in general structure and habits, and are placed in single genus. Pittas are medium-sized by passerine standards, and stocky, with longish strong legs, very short tails and stout bills. Many, but not all, are brightly coloured.

These are fairly terrestrial birds of wet forest floors, which eat snails, insects and similar invertebrate prey. They lay up to six eggs in a large spherical nest in a tree or shrub.

Family: Pittidae