I had always wanted to see a Pitta in the wild after seeing Antpittas in South America. Pittas have similar skulking behavior to Antpittas and are quite shy but far more colorful than their South American counter parts. We tried at Trusmadi to see the Bornean Banded Pitta. It called from very close many times but never came to the hide. At Sepilok we did get a look at the Rainforest Discovery Center but didn't get a good photo. We had to decide whether we tried another hide with limited time in Sepilok where hours could go by with no pitta coming to the hide. We decided to go for it which required hiking through a muddy trail to the hide when it started to rain. Luckily after 30 minutes the rain stopped and soon after a pitta started responding to our call. After an hour it arrived and we got great shots. Interestingly even though Liew put worms out, the pitta didn't eat any. But we still got many great shots.

This dazzling endemic pitta of Borneo’s lowland dipterocarp forests has midnight blue above and blinding scarlet below, with a dark head, bright blue wing coverts, and a glowing silver line trailing backwards behind the eye. Despite incandescent coloration, it can be difficult to see as it forages in dense undergrowth; especially favors well-shaded gullies and gulches. Its song is a pure ascending whistle which ends abruptly..

Aditya also got great shots. We both has long lenses on tripods which was very much needed in the very dark rain forest.

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