It is a green bird with a black head and chestnut crown.

It forages on the ground for insects and their larvae, and also eats berries.

It breeds between February and August, the pair being strongly territorial and building their nest on the ground.

Schlegel coined the binomial name Pitta rosenbergii where the specific epithet was chosen to honour the collector.

It is now considered as a separate species based on the genetic, morphological and vocal differences.