Blue-banded Pitta Erythropitta arquata Scientific name definitions

15 cm; 50–58 g. Male has forehead to nape and side of neck scarlet, a glistering sky-blue postocular stripe, dark green-blue upperparts , narrow line of sky-blue on wing, tail dull blue; side of head and throat orange-rufous, rest of underparts scarlet, glossy sky-blue breastband like a necklace ; iris red-brown to grey; bill blackish, tip and lower mandible with reddish tinge; feet blue-grey to plumbeous. Female is similar, but upperparts dark olive-green, tail grey-blue. Juvenile is plain brown, mottled grey-brown and buffish on side of head and throat, sometimes a few pinkish feathers on underparts, bill with pale tip and orange gape, feet grey.

N half of Borneo, S to about Mt Penrisen, Barito Ulu, and R Mahakam and Gunung Lumut (1 Wielstra, B., Boorsma, T. and Pieterse, S.M. (2012). An update on the avifauna of Gunung Lumut Protection Forest (East Kalimantan) reinforcing the potential conservation value of hutan adat. Kukila 16(1): 1–15. Close ).

Forest, often with many fallen trees and bamboo stands . Commonest at 600–1200 m, but recorded from 150 m to 1500 m.

Call is a monotone, single, fluty whistle of 2–3 seconds’ duration.