Elegant Pitta (Pitta elegans) [XC179653]
by Mike Nelson from Sumba - forest patch km 51, Indonesia (call, song)
Elegant Pitta (Pitta elegans) [XC553057]
by Colin Trainor from Semau, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Often considered conspecific with Indian Pitta (Pitta brachyura) or Blue-winged Pitta (Pitta moluccensis). Has been treated as a subspecies group of Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor), but possibly best regarded as forming a superspecies with Noisy Pitta (Pitta versicolor) together with Black-faced Pitta (Pitta anerythra) and Rainbow Pitta (Pitta iris).
Subspecies vigorsii sometimes considered a distinctl species. Described forms kalaonensis (Kalao, south of Sulawesi) and plesseni (Kalaotoa) considered indistinguishable from virginalis, while hutzi (southern Nusa Penida I, in Lombok Strait) and everetti (Alor) appear inseparable from concinna.
The following 6 subspecies are recognised:
concinna Gould, 1857 - Lesser Sundas, on Nusa Penida, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Adonara, Lomblen and Alor.
maria Hartert, 1896 - Sumba.
virginalis Hartert, 1896 - Islands of Tanahjampea, Kalao and Kalaotoa (south of Sulawesi).
elegans Temminck, 1836 - Breeds central Lesser Sundas (Semau, Timor, Kisar, possibly Roti). Also recorded (probably only as non-breeding visitor) on islands of Ruang and Tahulandang (north of Sulawesi), Ternate (west of Halmahera), Banggai Is, Sula Is (Taliabu, Mangole, Sanana) and central Moluccas (Buru, Boano, Seram).
vigorsii Gould, 1838 - Southern Moluccas (Banda, Kasiui, Kur, Tiur), Kai Is (including Taam, Tayandu) and eastern Lesser Sundas (Damar, Babar). Also recorded, probably as migrant, on Seram and Tanimbar Is.
hutzi Meise, 1942 - Nusa Penida (south-eastern of Bali).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet