A dark-headed beauty of tropical forests. Black head is topped with a chestnut crown in some subspecies. Body is emerald green with a bright blue patch on the shoulder and a crimson belly. Quietly forages singly for invertebrates on the ground. Like almost all pittas, shy and retiring and generally very difficult to see. Song is variable, but generally undistinguished: two primary notes, typically with a barking quality, and sometimes with quieter additional notes.