Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima) [XC22451]
by Paul Noakes from Sidangoli, Halmahera, Indonesia (2 birds calling spontaneously to each other)
Ivory-breasted Pitta (Pitta maxima) [XC413627]
by Frank Lambert from north of Weda Resort, Central Halmahera, North Maluku (approx location), Indonesia (song)
Subspecies
Relationships uncertain. Has sometimes been considered closest to Superb Pitta (Pitta superba) and Western Hooded Pitta (Pitta sordida), or to form a superspecies with those and Azure-breasted Pitta (Pitta steerii), but morphological differences appear to be too great for this treatment to be acceptable.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
maxima Müller & Schlegel, 1845 - Halmahera, including islands of Kasiruta and Bacan, possibly also Mandioli and Obi.
morotaiensis van Bemmel, 1939 - Morotai. Considered by some authors to be a distinct species, Morotai Pitta (Pitta morotaiensis).