Bulwer's pheasant, also known as Bulwer's wattled pheasant, the wattled pheasant or the white-tailed wattled pheasant, is a Southeast Asian bird in the family Phasianidae endemic to the forests of Borneo. It is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Region
Borneo, Southeast Asia
Typical Environment
Bulwer's pheasant occupies primary hill and lower montane dipterocarp forest with dense understorey and minimal disturbance. It frequents ridges, steep gullies, and areas near forest streams where leaf litter is deep for foraging. The species is strongly tied to mature, closed-canopy forest and only occasionally uses older secondary growth. It avoids open areas and edges, retreating quickly into dense cover when disturbed.
Altitude Range
300–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
Males have striking inflatable blue facial wattles and a long, flowing white tail they display during courtship, giving rise to the name 'wattled pheasant.' This shy, ground-dwelling species depends on intact Bornean hill and lower montane rainforest and is threatened by logging, fragmentation, and hunting. It is rarely seen, often detected only by its low booming calls at dawn or dusk. Conservation efforts focus on protected forest blocks in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats with explosive takeoff; low, brief flights
Social Behavior
Generally solitary or in pairs; small family groups may occur outside the breeding season. Males perform ground displays, inflating their facial wattles and fanning the long white tail to attract females. Nests are shallow scrapes on the forest floor lined with leaves, and clutch sizes are small. Parental care is primarily by the female.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
The male gives low, resonant booming notes that carry through the forest at dawn and dusk. Soft clucks and whistles are used at close range, and wing-whirr sounds accompany display or sudden flushes.
Plumage
Male glossy blackish body with iridescent sheen and very long, flowing white tail coverts; female is mottled brown with fine barring and a shorter tail, adapted for camouflage. Both sexes have stout legs and a sturdy build typical of forest pheasants.
Diet
It forages by scratching through leaf litter for fallen fruits, seeds, and tender shoots. Invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles, and other ground-dwelling arthropods are also taken, especially during the breeding season. It opportunistically consumes figs and other seasonally abundant forest fruits.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on the shaded forest floor of primary hill and lower montane rainforest, often near fruiting trees and along stream banks. Uses dense understorey and thickets for cover while foraging and to avoid predators.
