Salvadori's pheasant is a landfowl bird of genus Lophura, native to Indonesia. It is found in the mountain rainforests of Sumatra. Thus it is also known as the Sumatran pheasant. This bird was first described in 1879 by the Italian ornithologist Tommaso Salvadori. The species name inornata means "without ornament". The Hoogerwerf's pheasant is usually thought to be a subspecies.
Region
Sumatra, Indonesia
Typical Environment
Found primarily in the Bukit Barisan mountain range of Sumatra, it inhabits primary and mature secondary montane rainforests. It favors dense understory, bamboo thickets, and rattan tangles along ridgelines and stream gullies. The species is highly secretive and typically remains under heavy cover, occasionally venturing onto forest trails. It can persist in lightly logged forests but is scarce in heavily disturbed areas, with strongholds in protected parks such as Kerinci Seblat.
Altitude Range
600–2400 m
Climate Zone
Highland
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Salvadori's pheasant, also called the Sumatran pheasant, is a shy ground-dwelling bird of Sumatra’s montane rainforests. The species epithet inornata means “without ornament,” reflecting its lack of a crest compared to many relatives. Some authorities have treated Hoogerwerf's pheasant as a distinct species, while others consider it a subspecies.
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats followed by brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly, in pairs, or small family groups. Nests are simple ground scrapes hidden in dense vegetation. Breeding likely coincides with periods of increased food availability, and both sexes remain close to cover.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are low, resonant calls and short crowing notes, often delivered at dawn. Alarm calls are sharper clucks or rasping notes when flushed from the understory.
