Blue-headed Pitta Hydrornis baudii Scientific name definitions

16–17 cm; male 56–69 g, female 65–76 g. Male has glossy blue forehead to nape, black lores and facial mask , maroon-red upperparts, blue tail and uppertail-coverts; most upperwing-coverts black, flight-feathers blackish-brown, prominent white wingband; chin and throat white, breast black, rest of underparts dark purple-blue; iris dark brown; bill black; feet grey-blue to horn or dusky pinkish. Female  has top of head and upperparts rufous to cinnamon-brown, palest on head, throat greyish-buff, rest of underparts dull orange-buff to cinnamon. Dusky stripes found on blue rump of 18% of 39 adults examined (both sexes). Juvenile is like female but duller, breast dark brown, rest of underparts marbled dull brown and golden ochre, bill tip red.

Borneo.

Diet consists of earthworms, beetles, ants, Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets), caterpillars and other soft-bodied arthropods. Feeds among leaf litter by turning over leaves.

Soft descending “ppor-wi-iil” or shortened “ppor-or”; alarm call of female a drawn-out nasal “hwee-ouu”.

VULNERABLE. Locally common but patchily distributed. Occurs in several protected areas: Gunung Palung and Tanjung Puting National Parks and Barito Ulu Reserve, in Kalimantan, Sepilok, Tabin and Guning Lotung/Malimau Reserves, in Sabah, and Gunung Mulu National Park and Samunsam Reserve in Sarawak. Reported as common in recent years e.g. in C Kalimantan, where up to three calling males found in a forest of 1 km², but other sources suggest that it is rare in Kalimantan and much commoner in N Borneo. Most birds recorded from E Sabah, where very common at Kalabakan and Danum Valley; at one site in N Borneo at least 2 pairs/km². Extremely rare in Sarawak. There are still some lowland forests left in Borneo, which in short term provide grounds for some optimism; on the other hand, the continuing rapid deforestation and uncontrolled fires give cause for concern over the future prospects of this beautiful lowland-forest species. Appears to adapt to some degree to habitat modified by man. No reports of hunting, nor of capture for live-bird markets.