First-Ever Photos of Blue Pitta Captured in Meghalaya’s Nokrek National Park

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough by capturing the first photographic evidence of the elusive Blue Pitta (Hydrornis cyaneus) in Nokrek National Park, Meghalaya, a landmark for Indian ornithology.

Published in the Records of the Zoological Survey of India, the discovery confirms the bird’s presence in the Garo Hills.

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The images were recorded during a 2024 mammal-focused camera-trap survey (September–November), with 23 cameras over 690 trap nights capturing the Blue Pitta at three sites on four occasions.

The photos show male and female birds foraging in leaf litter for insects and small vertebrates at elevations of 1,009–1,341 meters in semi-evergreen and bamboo forests near streams.

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Nokrek, a 47 sq km UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayan hotspots, hosts diverse ecosystems and species like clouded leopards. The finding highlights its role as a haven for rare birds. “This is Meghalaya’s first photographic record of the Blue Pitta, proving Nokrek sustains a healthy population,” said Zoological Survey of India researchers.

The Blue Pitta, found from Bangladesh to Vietnam, has been a mystery in India, with only old records from Assam and Meghalaya and rare sightings elsewhere. Its shy, ground-dwelling nature in dense forests makes it hard to spot, but camera traps have proven vital.