Malayan Crested Fireback
Lophura rufa
Flamboyant dark pheasant of tropical lowland rainforest, typically in wetter areas. Male is glossy blue-black with a tufted crest, electric blue facial skin, blood-red back and white tail. Female is warm chocolate brown with pale-edged feathers on the underparts. Forages singly or in small groups on the forest floor. Shy but has become habituated in some places. Larger than Malayan Crestless Fireback and Salvadori’s Pheasant with blue rather than red facial skin and red rather than gray legs. Gives guttural “chuckit!” or soft ”weep” calls. Males also give a wing-whirring display.
Identification
It is a medium-sized, up to 70 cm long pheasant with a peacock-like dark crest, bluish black plumage, reddish brown rump, black outer tail feathers, red iris and bare blue facial skin. The female is a brown bird with short crest, blue facial skin and spotted black-and-white below. It is distinguished from the Bornean crested fireback by its white central tail feathers, red legs and bluish black streaked white below.
Taxonomy
This species was formerly considered a subspecies of the Bornean crested fireback (L. ignita), with both being grouped together as the crested fireback. Substantial plumage differences between both taxa led to the IUCN and Clements Checklist splitting both, with the International Ornithological Congress also making this change in 2023.<p>A pheasant of uncertain taxonomic provenance, popularly referred to as "Delacour's crested fireback" (formerly Lophura ignita macartneyi) is found in south-eastern Sumatra and the male has white to the tail, whitish legs and a variable amount of rufous below. As macartneyi specimens are variable, the Handbook of Birds of the World regards it as a hybrid between L. rufa and a possible relictual or introduced population of L. ignita. In 2023, the International Ornithological Congress officially recognized it as representing a hybrid swarm between L. ignita and L. rufa, and classified it within L. rufa.
- Scientific name
- Lophura rufa
- Authority
- (Raffles, 1822)
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Lophura
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Short-toed Coucal
Centropus rectunguis
Burly long-tailed cuckoo. Adult is coal-black with bright rufous wings and back. Juvenile is messier-looking, with extensive pale barring over much of the upper body. Very similar in appearance to Greater Coucal, but Short-toed is smaller and shorter-tailed. Prefers dense lowland and foothill rainforest but can also be found in scrubby or grassy areas with extensive cover. Gives sad muffled hoots.
Scarlet-rumped Tanager
Ramphocelus passerinii
Fairly common in humid tropical lowlands. Favors evergreen forest edges, plantations, and verdant second growth, such as areas along roadsides. Forages mainly at low to middle levels often in fairly noisy small groups. Male is unmistakable if seen clearly: velvety black with a blinding scarlet rump. Female is very different: note distinctive bluish-white bill, tawny rump, and grayish head. Formerly known as Cherrie's Tanager and Passerini's Tanager.
Black-faced Munia
Lonchura molucca
A striking finch with a black hood, light brown collar, extensively barred white underside, and pale barred rump. Juveniles duller, brown above and buffy below, lacking bars. Singles to small groups inhabit open country in lowlands and foothills, including croplands, scrub, grassy areas, and woodland edge. Terrestrial, but perches in trees and bushes too. Adult differs from Scaly-breasted Munia in black hood and pale rump. Juvenile has a smaller bill than immature Five-colored Munia. Gives high-pitched, buzzy “krrit” calls, like a tiny tin horn.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.