Crested Fireback Pheasant

From the pheasant household Crested Fireback which is scientifically recognized as “Lophura ignita“ is famous for its exclusive peacock like crest. This pheasant is a medium-sized bird which has an average length up to 70 cm. Crested Fireback is discovered in the forests of South East Asia. Crested Fireback is deemed as a threatened species which is enlisted on the IUCN Red List.

Crested fireback pheasant. Image : Kamsani

With a dark colored crest, Crested Fireback pheasant has a bluish black plumage, reddish brown rump, black outer tail feathers, red iris and bare blue facial skin. The female Crested Fireback is a like other female pheasant has brownish body with a small crest. The other attributes contain blue facial skin and spotted black-and-white beneath.

Crested Fireback Female, Danum Valley, Borneo ( By Terathopius on flickr )

The humid and dark forests of Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra are the best homelands of Crested Fireback. There are four subspecies of the Crested Fireback. Cested Fireback Pheasant loves to eat the leaves of plants, grains, fruits and rats. The female Crested Fireback usually lays amongst 4 to eight eggs which are of creamy white colour. Deforestation and logging is a permanent danger to the organic habitat of Crested Fireback. They are also being hunted rapidly and their population is decreasing at an alarming rate.