Blue Pitta

Known only from scattered sites throughout Southeastern Asia, the Blue Pitta might be the most reclusive species I've photographed, this obviously set-up shot captured outside Kaeng Krachan National Park. This male would only approach the deep forest hide in the absence of woodpeckers, laughingthrushes, and squirrels, and he only appeared twice during my 3-hour vigil, each time for less than minute. I was hella stoked to walk away with a sharp shot under such challenging lighting conditions!

Nui's hide, Kaeng Krachan NP, Pretchaburi, Thailand, December 2019
Canon 600mm f/4 IS II on EOS 1DX Mark II
1/100 at f/5, ISO 3200, tripod