Red-breasted Partridge
Arborophila hyperythra
Brightly-marked forest gamebird of Borneo’s central mountains. Combination of bright black-and-white side scaling and warm orange head and breast are unique. Like other Arborophila partridges, forages in dense undergrowth in forested areas, and is more readily heard than seen; the ringing repetitive song is a series of short whistles, often given as a duet.
Identification
The red-breasted partridge is about 27 cm (11 in) long and weighs about 270 g (9.5 oz). The crown and nape are blackish, with brown spots. There is a grey or rufous supercilium, and a blackish-brown band goes through the eye. The cheeks and throat are rufous. The breast is bright chestnut, sometimes browner, and the belly is whitish. The flanks are black and white. The upperparts are brown, with blackish bars. The eyes are grey, the beak is black, and the legs are pink. There is red bare skin around the throat, usually covered by sparse feathers. The female bird's plumage is a little duller than the male's.
Taxonomy
Richard Bowdler Sharpe described this species as Bambusicola hyperythra in 1879, from specimens collected in northwestern Borneo by William Hood Treacher, who was Acting Governor of Labuan at that time. In 1890, Sharpe described the population on Mount Kinabalu as Bambusicola erythrophrys. It was formerly considered a subspecies, but it has been suggested that the brighter plumage on the face is due to age differences. The species is currently considered monotypic.
- Scientific name
- Arborophila hyperythra
- Authority
- (Sharpe, 1879)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Arborophila
Range and habitat
This partridge is endemic to north-central Borneo, including parts of Sabah, Sarawak, North Kalimantan and northern Central Kalimantan. It lives in primary and secondary forests at elevations of 600–1,800 m (2,000–5,900 ft) and prefers bamboos and thickets.
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
Migration pattern: Resident species.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Black-faced Brushfinch
Atlapetes melanolaemus
Long-tailed, sparrow-like bird found in humid habitats along the Andes. Has a dark gray face and upperparts, with dusky yellowish underparts and a rusty red crown. Told apart from other brushfinches in range by its combination of yellow belly and red crown; more brightly colored than the similar Olive Finch, which has an olive-yellow back. Forages near the ground in montane forest and scrub within a wide elevational range. Listen for its simple whistled song and high, thin call notes.
Torrent Duck
Merganetta armata
An amazing duck of fast-flowing Andean rivers and streams. Usually seen as singles or pairs resting on rocks in rushing water and not associating with other ducks. Feeds by diving in churning water and pools and is somehow able to swim up-current with no apparent exertion. Sexes look quite different, but both have a bright red bill and striped back; male has a white head with black lines, while female has a gray head and bright rusty underparts. Body pattern of male varies regionally from black overall to striped with whitish or rusty.
Slender-billed Greenbul
Stelgidillas gracilirostris
Slim, long-tailed greenbul with an olive-brown back and gray underparts. When seen well, shows a red eye. Found in the canopy of humid forest. Can be found singly, in pairs, or in small groups. The most common vocalization is a long, descending whistle: “teeeiow.” The contrast between the dark upperparts and gray underparts make this a distinctive species by greenbul standards.
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