Chloropsis kinabaluensis
The Bornean Leafbird (Chloropsis kinabaluensis) is a striking and elusive passerine endemic to the montane forests of Borneo. Averaging about 18 cm (7.1 inches) in length, males are resplendent in bright emerald green plumage, characteristic of their family, complemented by a distinctive black mask and throat. A shimmering violet-blue wash extends from the chin, while a cobalt-blue patch adorns the shoulder and a narrow blue border outlines the black mask. Females, though equally green, lack ...
Found exclusively in high-altitude montane and submontane forests, typically between 1,000 and 3,000 meters (3,300-9,800 feet) above sea level.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on a diverse mix of insects (e.g., caterpillars, beetles), fruit, and nectar.
Bornean Leafbirds are primarily diurnal, active from dawn to dusk, often foraging solitarily or in pairs high in the forest canopy. Their foraging strategy is agile and varied, involving gleaning insects from foliage, hawking flying insects, and actively probing flowers for nectar with their spec...
The Bornean Leafbird is strictly endemic to the island of Borneo, with its distribution concentrated in the montane regions of northern Borneo. Its primary range includes the highlands of Sabah and Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, as well as adjacent parts of Brunei and potentially high-elevation are...
Least Concern
- The Bornean Leafbird is an altitudinal specialist, found almost exclusively in the high-elevation montane forests of Borneo, unlike most of its lowland-dwelling relatives. - Its scientific name, 'kinabaluensis,' is a direct homage to Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in Borneo, where the species...