Bornean Peacock-Pheasant
Polyplectron schleiermacheri
With his iridescent pale blue crest, bright orange facial skin patch, and luminous blue spots along his wings and broad fan-shaped tail, the eccentric-looking male is unmistakable if seen well. Female is less eye-catching: warm brown all over with smaller, darker spots. Inhabits primary lowland and hill forest, favoring areas with ridges. Typically quiet; occasionally gives loud, harsh calls.
Identification
The pheasant is up to 50 cm long, rufous brown and black spotted, with an elongated crest and nape feathers, black below and bare red skin around bluish iris eye. The breast sides are metallic blue-green, bordering the white throat and central upper breast. Its twenty-two tail feathers are decorated with large blue-green ocelli, which may be spread fan-like in display. The female is smaller and duller brown than the male. It has a brown iris and no spurs on its feet.
Taxonomy
Together with the phenotypically similar Malayan peacock-pheasant and Palawan peacock-pheasant it represents a basal group in its genus; their radiation probably took place during the PlioceneBeing very poorly known, the Bornean peacock-pheasant was long considered to be a subspecies of the Malayan peacock-pheasant, but the two species are well-isolated geographically. The highly specialised anterior breast and upper neck plumage of male Bornean peacock-pheasant males are quite distinctive. Females of the two species are more difficult to distinguish. The rectrices of the Bornean species are morphologically and patterned intermediate between Palawan and Malayan peacock-pheasants.
- Scientific name
- Polyplectron schleiermacheri
- Authority
- Brüggemann, 1877
- Order
- Galliformes
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Genus
- Polyplectron
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
Because of ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and limited range, the Bornean peacock-pheasant is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Shelley's Francolin
Scleroptila shelleyi
Medium-sized, beautifully-patterned francolin. Shows rufous patches in the wings in flight. Found on the ground in areas with thick grass, ranging from pure grassland to lush woodland. Mostly at low and moderate elevations, but sometimes found in high mountain grassland. Call is a rhythmic up-and-down repeated “chil-it, chil-chow”. Generally scarce, shy, and retiring. Range does not overlap extensively with similar francolins. Combination of complex facial pattern and belly heavily barred black-and-white are always diagnostic. Much more cleanly and boldly marked than the more washed-out and buffy Whyte’s Francolin.
Elfin-woods Warbler
Setophaga angelae
A medium-sized warbler of moist montane dwarf forests where it feeds actively in dense canopy foliage. It is most readily distinguished from Black-and-white Warbler by the absence of white streaking on its back and the lack of a white eyebrow. Easily separated from Blackpoll Warblers, which have a white, not black cheek. Song is a thin trill, higher pitched during first half and lower pitched during the second. Call note is a high, thin “Peet.”
Belford's Melidectes
Melidectes belfordi
A large, common honeyeater of upper montane cloud forest. Body gray with white scaling on the back, olive wing feathers and buffy under the base of the tail. Black head with prominent white facial stripe from the base of the bill, pale blue eye ring and bare facial skin behind the eye with a small white line behind it. Similar to Cinnamon-browed and Yellow-browed Melidectes and it hybridizes with the latter. Belford’s however has blue facial skin, dark bill and lacks red wattles.
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