Photographing 4 Species of Pitta in Singapore: My Journey to Capture the Elusive Fairy Pitta
Singapore is well known among birders as one of the best places in Southeast Asia for urban birding. Despite being a small island, it hosts a surprising diversity of species, including several members of the colourful pitta family.
Over the years, I have been fortunate to photograph four species of pitta in Singapore:
Each species came with its own story. Some encounters were pure luck, while others took years of patience and repeated attempts. Among them all, photographing the Fairy Pitta was the most challenging and rewarding experience.
This is my personal journey photographing four of Singapore’s most beautiful birds.
Why Pittas Are So Special to Bird Photographers
Pittas are often called “jewels of the forest.” Their striking colours—emerald green, deep blue, bright red, and golden brown—make them among the most photogenic birds in Asia.
However, pittas are also notoriously difficult to photograph because they:
• Stay close to the forest floor
• Move quickly through dense vegetation
• Appear unpredictably during migration
In Singapore, when a rare pitta appears, it often attracts bird photographers who are willing to wait hours—or even days—for a chance at a photo.
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My First Pitta: Blue-winged Pitta
Ironically, my first encounter with a pitta was also the easiest.
In April 2011, a Blue-winged Pitta unexpectedly flew straight and crashed into our living room. At the time, I had never seen a pitta so closely before.
The bird likely became disoriented during migration and ended up indoors. Instead of panicking, we carefully kept the bird safe. We provided food and water and allowed it time to recover.
For three days, the pitta stayed with us before we finally released it back into the wild.
That moment marked the beginning of my fascination with pittas. It also became the first pitta I ever photographed. The Blue-winged Pitta is actually one of the more common migratory pittas in Singapore, especially during migration seasons when birds pass through the region. Over the years, I have photographed a few blue-winged pittas in many locations in Singapore.
Mangrove Pitta: A Coastal Specialist
The Mangrove Pitta is another exciting species for bird photographers, but it prefers a very specific habitat: mangrove forests.
In Singapore, sightings often occur in places such as:
Compared to other pittas, the Mangrove Pitta can sometimes be easier to locate because it is quite vocal. Its loud calls often echo through mangrove habitats, giving birders a clue that the bird is nearby. Incidentally, mangrove pitta primarily nests within the mature mangrove forests of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.
Still, photographing one requires patience. Mangrove forests are dense, lighting conditions can be difficult, and the bird often moves quickly between roots and low branches. When the moment comes, however, the reward is worth the effort. The Mangrove Pitta’s bold colours and strong bill make it a striking subject for photography. They look similar to the Blue-winged Pitta except for the heavier black bill ( use for crab) in the Mangrove Pitta.
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Hooded Pitta: A Colourful Surprise in Urban Parks
The Hooded Pitta is perhaps one of the most colourful birds you can encounter in Singapore.
With its bright green back, black hood, and vivid red belly, it stands out even in dense foliage.
I encountered and photographed this species in locations such as:
• Housing estate gardens.
Unlike some pittas that prefer remote forests, Hooded Pittas occasionally appear in urban parks and gardens. This makes them accessible to both birdwatchers and photographers living in the city.
However, they remain shy birds. Even when they are present, spotting them requires careful observation and a bit of luck.
The Ultimate Challenge: Photographing the Fairy Pitta
Among all the pittas I photographed, the Fairy Pitta was by far the most difficult.
Fairy Pitta. Singapore
My journey to photograph this bird took several years and multiple failed attempts even during the Covid pandemic.
First Opportunity – 2019
The first time the Fairy Pitta appeared in Singapore was around November 2019 at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve at the end of Rifle Range Road.
Unfortunately, I did not manage to even see it let alone photograph it then.
Rare birds often disappear quickly, and sometimes timing simply isn’t on your side.
Second Opportunity – Bukit Timah
The second sighting occurred during the COVID period at Hindhede Nature Reserve off Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. This time, I was determined. I joined other photographers and waited patiently for the bird. In fact, I queued for three days during Covid hoping to capture a photograph.
But despite all the waiting, the Fairy Pitta never appeared during my turn.
It was frustrating, but that is part of wildlife photography.
Third Time Lucky – Botanic Gardens Rainforest Trail.
The third appearance happened at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
This time, I was determined not to miss the opportunity.
During the Lunar New Year period, I made five separate attempts to find the bird braving the rain and wet weather in February.
Finally, my patience paid off on the 6th attempt.
At one moment, the Fairy Pitta appeared just two metres away from me. For a brief but unforgettable moment, I came face-to-face with this beautiful bird with an unblocked view.
After years of trying, I finally managed to capture the photograph I had been dreaming about.
Lessons From Photographing Pittas
Photographing pittas has taught me several lessons about bird photography.
1. Patience Is Everything
Rare birds may appear only briefly. Sometimes photographers wait hours or days for a few seconds of opportunity.
2. Persistence Pays Off
My Fairy Pitta photograph only happened after multiple years and several failed attempts.
3. Luck Always Plays a Role
Sometimes birds appear when you least expect them—like the Blue-winged Pitta that flew into my living room.
Best Places to Look for Pittas in Singapore
For birdwatchers hoping to see pittas in Singapore, several locations are known to produce sightings:
These areas provide good forest habitat and occasionally attract migratory species.
However, sightings are never guaranteed. Pittas are elusive birds, and timing plays a huge role in finding them.
Final Thoughts: A Decade of Chasing Forest Jewels
My journey photographing four species of pitta in Singapore has taken more than a decade.
It started with a Blue-winged Pitta flying into my living room, continued with encounters with the Mangrove Pitta and Hooded Pitta, and finally culminated in the long-awaited photograph of the Fairy Pitta.
Each bird represents a special moment in my photography journey.
For bird photographers, pittas remain some of the most exciting and rewarding subjects in Southeast Asia. Their beauty, rarity, and unpredictability make every encounter unforgettable. There are about 46 species of pitta in the world, Southeast Asia is the stronghold for this family. Key species in the region include the Blue-winged Pitta, Hooded Pitta, and the endangered Gurney’s Pitta, with high concentrations of species in Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Here are some of the pittas species taken from Southeast Asia
If you enjoy bird photography in Singapore, keep exploring the parks and nature reserves. You never know when the next forest jewel might appear.
Photographing four species of pitta in Singapore – Fairy Pitta, Blue-winged Pitta, Mangrove Pitta and Hooded Pitta. A bird photographer’s journey through Singapore’s best birding locations.
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