“This species was based on a specimen in the Darmstadt Museum, of which Mr. Gould gives the subjoined description:
“‘General color above dull olive-brown, with somewhat of a ruddy tint on the sides of the neck and mantle; wing-coverts lilac-gray, the primary-coverts and quills blackish brown; the primaries externally grayish towards their ends; the secondaries and inner greater coverts olive-brown, washed with lilac-gray on the outer webs; the second, third, and fourth primaries with a large white spot on the inner web, the last-named having the white spot on the outer web as well; upper tail-coverts and tail lilac-gray, the latter darker; forehead and crown, as well as the lores, region of the eye, and ear-coverts dark brown, the latter slightly shaded with an olive tinge; nape and hind neck dull red; cheeks ashy brown, with a bluish shade under certain lights, forming a very broad moustache; throat reddish in the center, brown on the sides, forming a malar stripe; the fore neck red with a tinge of lilac; chest lilac-gray, the sides olive-brown; remainder of under surface of body scarlet; the sides olive-brown, with which color the center of the abdomen is washed; under tail-coverts scarlet, the longer ones tipped and edged with lilac-blue; thighs ashy gray; under wing-coverts dull lilac-blue, some of the outer ones tipped with white; axillars olive-brown, like the back; quills ashy brown below, relieved by the before-mentioned white spots on the primaries. Length, 190, culmen, 30; wing, 119; tail, 56; tarsus, 53.’
“The large size and dark brown ear-coverts are the distinguishing features of this pitta.” (Sclater.)
“Immature female.—Top of the head rather dark brown, shading gradually into a more rufous tint on the nape; all the feathers have rather darker margins, giving these parts a slightly scaled appearance; a few of the dull red feathers of the adult are beginning to make their appearance; the dark olive on the rest of the upper parts has a somewhat browner shade, though here and there some of the greener feathers of the adult plumage may be seen; the grayish blue of the outer wing-coverts and outer webs of the secondaries is replaced by dull olive, and the slate-blue of the upper tail-coverts and tail is not so bright; the ear-coverts are brown, with buff centers; the moustache stripes dirty white, devoid of that reddish shade characteristic of the adult plumage; the chin and throat-feathers with white centers and black margins and bases, those on the fore neck being conspicuously white, washed with reddish; the chest-feathers are whitish buff, with here and there a few slate-blue feathers; rest of the under parts dirty whitish buff, most of the feathers, especially those on the sides and flanks, margined with brownish buff; a few pale scarlet feathers indicate the colors of the adult, but are much less brilliant.
“In more advanced examples the upper parts entirely resemble those of the fully adult bird, but the slate-blue on the wings is almost wanting; the fore neck and chest are still intermixed with white-and-buff centered feathers, and on the rest of the under parts the scarlet feathers of the adult and the whitish buff of the juvenile plumage are represented in about equal parts.
“It is difficult to imagine anything more glorious than the colors of the fully adult male, the brilliant scarlet of the lower breast and belly contrasting vividly with the shining slate-blue chest.
“The adult female differs from the male only in having the colors of the under parts rather less brilliant.” (Grant.)
Koch’s pitta is known only from the highlands of northern Luzon.