Cambodia, China (mainland), Laos (B), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam.
Vagrant to Bangladesh.
North-eastern Bangladesh, and central and south-eastern Myanmar and west, north-western and eastern Thailand east to southern China (southern Yunnan) and south to Indochina (southern Cambodia, central Annam).
 
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Eared Pitta (Hydrornis phayrei) [XC773810]
by Frank Lambert from near Haew Suwat Waterfall, Khao Yai National Park, Thailand (song)
Eared Pitta (Hydrornis phayrei) [XC295455]
by Marc Anderson from Kaeng Krachan National Park, Ban Krang, KM 15-18, Phetchaburi, Thailand (song)
Subspecies
Sometimes placed in a separate, monotypic genus Anthocincla, and such treatment may indeed be more appropriate. Allegedly darker birds from north-eastern Tonkin sometimes separated as subspecies obscura, but individual variation considerable.