The Mangrove Pitta is a medium sized near “ground bird”, vividly colored bird identified by its heavy black bill, black head with a buff-brown crown, buff underparts, and reddish vent. It has green upperparts and glossy blue wing patches. Primarily found in mangroves from India to Indonesia, it is distinguished from the similar Blue-winged Pitta by its larger bill and more drab crown.

It is fairly common in mangrove habitat all along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia, but with a more patchy occurance on the east coast. In Seberang it is found in all districts in all coastal mangroves, and the freshwater swamp forest at Air Hitam Dalam, they are speculation it may have been driven out by the more common Blue-winged Pitta which only within the past twenty years became a breeding resident.