Information on pitta breeding is very poorly known, although some breeding information has been collected from
captive breeding (Erritzoe, 2004). Pittas are monogamous birds and are solitary breeders (in pairs and not in groups)
defending against intruders. The breeding season is generally timed with the onset of the rainy season, which coincides
with the increase abundance of arthropods. Rain also makes the soil soft and moist, bringing the earthworms, which
retreat deeper into the earth during the drier season up to the soil surface, where they are easily found by foraging birds.
Another reason for breeding during the rainy season is that because of the increase in rainfall, the vegetation gets lusher,
thus providing more cover for the nest and nestlings. However the blue-winged pitta in the northern states of the Malay
Peninsula such as Kedah, Perlis, and Penang has been observed to breed in fruit plantations during the months of May–
Aug. which is the dry season. These shy and elusive birds are ground nesters and are more easily observed during this
nesting period. It is thought that they migrate northwards into Thailand with their young after the breeding season, thus
explaining why not a single blue-winged pitta is observed or heard in Kedah, Penang and Perlis outside the nesting
months. During the period prior to nest-building, they can often be observed hopping all over the ground digging up
earthworms and catching other insects and invertebrates such as crickets, grasshoppers and even the occasional
centipede (Figs. 6, 7).
During nest-building period, blue-winged pittas are observed to build their nests of dried material and fine roots, which
they collect fervently (Erritzoe, 2004). Their nests are usually built right on the ground, or amongst low scrub and
undergrowth but have also been observed in birds nest ferns (Asplenium nidus) growing on the trunks and branches of
fruit trees. Their nests are rarely located high in the trees. Their nests are usually dome-shaped and sheltered with a front-facing entrance. Usually 3–4, lightly speckled eggs are laid per nest (Fig. 8), with the male and female birds
taking turns to incubate and tend to the eggs. When one parent sits is on the nest, the other is often found perching on a
nearby low branch keeping guard or is out foraging for food. The incubation period was approximated at 7–10 days
which is rather short, although Erritzoe (2004) reports incubation typically lasting 14–16 days in the blue-winged pitta,
and 15–16 days for the hooded pitta, after which dark brown chicks emerge (Fig. 9).