This bird species from the family Pittidae is found in the northeastern Indian subcontinent, southern China, and Indochina. Pittas are medium-sized birds with long legs and short tails. The blue pitta is about 23 cm long. Males have a blue back and tail with a pale bluish, black-speckled breast. Females are grey-backed with a pale grey, speckled breast. The bill is dark grey; the legs are pale pink.

It lives in evergreen forests, often near streams or in ravines, but also occurs in drier tropical forests. Usually solitary, it forages on the ground for insects and small invertebrates. Its IUCN Red List status is Least Concern.