Lophura ignita
The Bornean Crested Fireback (*Lophura ignita*) is a truly spectacular pheasant, a gem of the Bornean rainforests. Males are unmistakable with their glossy, iridescent blue-black body plumage that contrasts sharply with a deep chestnut-red lower back and rump. A defining feature is the vivid scarlet facial skin, forming an extensive wattle around the eye, crowned by a long, stiff, and often backward-curving blue-black crest. Males measure 67-75 cm (26-30 in) in length and weigh 1.8-2.6 kg (4-...
Found in lowland and hill primary rainforests, often extending into secondary forests and disturbed areas with dense undergrowth. It primarily inhabits elevations up to 1,000 meters (3,300 feet), occasionally higher.
An omnivorous species, its diet consists mainly of various invertebrates (insects, larvae, worms, snails) found in the forest floor litter, supplemented by fallen fruits, seeds, berries, and occasionally young plant shoots.
Bornean Crested Firebacks are diurnal birds, primarily active during the early morning and late afternoon hours, foraging on the forest floor before roosting in trees at night. Their foraging strategy involves vigorous scratching and digging through leaf litter, soft soil, and fallen logs using t...
The Bornean Crested Fireback is endemic to the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, inhabiting the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah, the Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan, and the independent sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. Its distribution spans across lowland and hill primary rainforests, ...
Near Threatened
- The species name 'ignita' is Latin for 'fiery,' a perfect descriptor for the male's vibrant scarlet facial wattle and chestnut-red back. - Despite their dazzling plumage, Bornean Crested Firebacks are notoriously shy and elusive, making them a prized sighting for any birder in Borneo. - The mal...