The Bornean crestless fireback is a member of the Phasianidae. It was previously known as the crestless fireback when the two species were lumped together. The Bornean crestless fireback is found in northern Borneo.
Region
Borneo
Typical Environment
Occurs in primary and tall secondary lowland and hill dipterocarp forests, often near streams and in dense understory. It favors intact forest floors with deep leaf litter where it can forage and remain concealed. The species can persist in selectively logged forests if cover remains, but it avoids open areas and heavily degraded habitats. Encounters are typically along quiet forest trails or at fruiting trees where it visits the ground for fallen food.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 900 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
A shy, ground-dwelling pheasant of Borneo’s lowland forests, the Bornean crestless fireback lacks the head crest typical of many Lophura. It was formerly lumped with the Malayan crestless fireback but is now treated as a separate species. Habitat loss and hunting pressure are the main threats to its survival.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered in pairs or small family groups, moving quietly through dense understory. Nests are shallow scrapes on the ground, lined with leaves, and concealed under vegetation. Clutches are moderate in size, and adults are attentive, relying on stealth rather than aggression to avoid predators.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include low booming hoots and soft coos given from the ground or low perches at dawn. Alarm calls are harsher, rapid cackles as birds flush into cover.
Plumage
Male is glossy black with a bluish sheen and rich rufous tones on the rump and upper tail; head is smooth and crestless with bare facial skin. Female is smaller, warm brown and finely mottled or barred, offering excellent camouflage on the forest floor.
Diet
Forages by scratching leaf litter for fallen fruits, seeds, and tender shoots. Supplements plant material with invertebrates such as beetles, ants, termites, and worms. Will also take small snails and other soft-bodied prey when available.
Preferred Environment
Feeds predominantly on the shaded forest floor of primary and lightly logged forests. Often forages along quiet trails, stream margins, and beneath fruiting trees where food accumulates.
