The red-breasted partridge, also known as the Bornean hill-partridge, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae. It is endemic to hill and montane forest in Borneo, preferring bamboos and thickets. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.
Region
Borneo
Typical Environment
Occurs in hill and montane evergreen forests, especially where dense understory, bamboo, and rattan are present. Favors steep slopes, ridge trails, and valley bottoms with thick leaf litter for foraging. It keeps close to cover and is seldom seen in open areas. The species also uses secondary forest and forest edges adjacent to primary habitat.
Altitude Range
600–2200 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the Bornean hill-partridge, it is a shy, ground-dwelling bird of Borneo’s upland forests. It often moves in pairs or small family groups, slipping quietly through dense bamboo and rattan thickets. Its rich rufous breast and clear whistled calls help distinguish it from other partridges of the region.
Mount Kinabalu Nat'l Park - Sabah, Borneo - Malaysia
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats; reluctant flier
Social Behavior
Usually found in pairs or small family parties moving quietly along the forest floor. Nests are placed on or near the ground in dense cover. Breeding behavior likely involves both parents attending young, which are precocial and follow adults soon after hatching.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
A series of clear, whistled notes that may accelerate or rise slightly in pitch. Pairs often duet, with one bird answering the other from nearby cover. Calls carry well through dense vegetation at dawn and dusk.
