About Atelornis pittoides (Lafresnaye, 1834)
The pitta-like ground roller (scientific name Atelornis pittoides (Lafresnaye, 1834)) is a small, slender species in the ground roller family. Adults measure 25 to 29 cm (9.8–11.4 in) in length and weigh between 74 and 114 g (2.6–4.0 oz). It has a cobalt-blue head marked with a black mask, a white supercilium, and a white throat that is bordered by blue. Its upperparts are bronzy green, its belly is white with buff-colored flanks, and a rufous band runs across its breast and back. This species is endemic to the eastern half of Madagascar, occurring from the extreme north of the island to its southern edge. It has the widest geographic distribution of any member of the ground roller family. It also occupies a wider range of habitats than other members of its family, found in all types of natural rainforest on Madagascar from sea level up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft), and is most common between elevations of 800–1,600 m (2,600–5,200 ft). Smaller numbers of the species can also be found in degraded secondary forest. It is generally non-migratory, but changes in population size linked to weather have been observed, suggesting some unrecorded movements may occur.
