Fight of Navrang

I am visiting Thattekad - Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary in Cochin, Kerala, for the past many years. I like the place, for its abundance & colours in bird life. During my last visit, I wished to see Grey-headed Bulbul, which is one of the highlights of the place, but I missed it.

Post-lunch, I was birding in a thicket, searching for Cuckoos. Though I didn't see any cuckoos, I saw an Indian Pitta, flying low. It landed inside a thick bush. Then I noticed, there were two Pittas. I was exited to see them together. I tried to make some images with both of them in one frame, but the bush was extremely thick, and I was not close enough. I didn't move forward but stayed there, as I didn't want to disturb the events like - mating or combat, that might happen. I waited for some action...

As I expected, they started a territorial combat and displayed an amazing behaviour. The display was a sequence of actions:

Both will look at the left, with it's (small) neck stretched,

then, both will look at the right with neck stretched,

then, they show their sides, and

display in the ground by spreading the colourful wings,

and all of a sudden, they jump towards each other, face-to-face in the air

In the event, one tries to dominate the other while jumping

(Looking at each other, with neck stretched, like a stare, I have observed this behaviour in Indian Blue Robin as well).

This happened for 3-4 times. I tried my best to capture the moment, but the bush was too thick with very less visibility as well as the distance was also a challenge.

They saw each other

Look left

Look right

Display in the floor

Just before the jump

Face-off in mid-air

Display in the air

One dominates the other

May be the winner is decided

Later, when referring Wikipedia, I understand that:

Refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitta

//

The pittas are strongly territorial, with territories varying in size from 3000 m² in the African Pitta to 10,000m² in the Rainbow Pitta. Pittas will perform territory defence displays on the edges of their territories, although fights between rivals have only been recorded once. Migratory species will defend non-breeding feeding territories in addition to their breeding ones.

//

I am not sure, if this is such a rare event and I am really lucky to witness and record it. I wanted to share what I experienced.

The term "Navrang" in the title means "Nine colours" in Hindi, which is used to represent Indian Pitta as "Navrang Pakshi" or "nine coloured bird", as it has nine colours in its plumage.