The fruithunter or fruit-hunter, also known as the black-breasted fruit-hunter, is an enigmatic species of bird currently placed with the typical thrushes in the family Turdidae. It is endemic to forests on the south-east Asian island of Borneo.
Region
Borneo
Typical Environment
Occurs in montane evergreen and mossy forests across Borneo, including Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan. Prefers dense, fruit-rich midstory and canopy strata, often near fruiting figs and laurels. It uses forest edges, ridgelines, and mature secondary montane forest but is seldom found in lowlands. The species is typically elusive, moving quietly through shaded foliage.
Altitude Range
900–2500 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Fruithunter is a monotypic thrush of Borneo’s montane forests, long considered enigmatic for its unusual bill color and habits. Males are strikingly dark with a bright orange bill, while females are olive and streaked, making the pair quite distinctive. It plays an important role in seed dispersal by swallowing small fruits whole.
Temperament
quiet and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats between perches
Social Behavior
Usually solitary or in pairs, especially around fruiting trees. Builds a cup-shaped nest typical of thrushes, placed in shrubs or small trees. Both parents likely participate in feeding the young.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Song consists of soft, clear whistles delivered from within the mid-canopy. Calls are thin, high 'tsee' notes that can be hard to locate in dense foliage.
Plumage
Male is velvety black to blackish with a glossy sheen; female is olive-brown above with paler, streaked underparts. Both sexes show a bright orange bill and legs, giving a bold contrast to the plumage.
Diet
Primarily consumes small fruits and berries, notably figs and laurels. Swallows fruits whole and later disperses seeds. Supplements diet with insects and other small invertebrates, especially when fruit is scarce.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in the midstory to canopy of montane forest, concentrating around fruiting trees. Also forages along forest edges and ridgelines where fruiting resources are patchy.
