Pitta kochi Bruggemann, Abhandl. naturw. Ver. Bremen (1877), 65,
pl. 3, fig. 6; Sclater, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. (1888), 14, 433;
Grant, Ibis (1895), 457; Whitehead, Ibis (1899), 244 (habits);
Sharpe, Hand-List (1901), 3, 182; McGRegor and Worcester, Hand-List
(1906), 68.
Erythropitta kochi, Tweeddale, Proc. Zool. Soc. (1878), 430,
pl. 26.
Luzon (von Othberg, Whitehead).
"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.