Fun Crested Fireback Facts For Kids

In this article, we will be learning and reading about the crested fireback (Lophura ignita). This bird is a medium-sized forest pheasant that is named after its beautiful crest. They belong to the family Phasianidae and the genus Lophura. These birds were initially divided into four subspecies: Lophura ignita, Lophura ignita nobilis, Lophura ignita rufa, and Lopohura ignita macartneyi (Delacour's crested fireback). However, as of 2014, two of the subspecies are now recognized as separate species altogether, namely, the Bornean crested fireback and the Malayan crested fireback. In this article, we will focus on the crested fireback (Lophura ignita) from Borneo. The Bornean crested fireback is larger than other similar species. The crested fireback population has been on a decline recently. Habitat loss as a result of human-caused degradation is a responsible factor for its dwindling population.

Keep on scrolling and reading to learn some interesting facts about the fascinating crested fireback from Sumatra, Thailand, Borneo, the Thai Malay Peninsula, and Malaysia. If you enjoy reading facts on the crested fireback, make sure you check out some facts about the palm warbler and the red backed shrike too.

What type of animal is a crested fireback?

The crested fireback (Lophura ignita) is a type of bird. This is a medium-sized bird that has a distinct peacock-like crest. The taxonomy of the crested fireback pheasant might cause confusion as the name can be used to refer to two separate species: the Bornean crested fireback (also known as the lesser Bornean crested fireback pheasant) and the Malay crested fireback (Lophura rufa).

What class of animal does a crested fireback belong to?

The crested fireback (Lophura ignita) belongs to class Aves. Furthermore, crested fireback birds from Borneo belong to the order Galliformes, the family Phasianidae, and the genus Lophura.

How many crested firebacks are there in the world?

There are no exact estimates of the current crested fireback pheasant population in Thai regions, Sumatra, Malaysia, and Borneo. Although, it must be noted that their IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List status of Vulnerable is a strong indicator that their numbers are low and decreasing, as it indicates that they are a threatened species.

Where does a crested fireback live?

Crested fireback (Lophura ignita) pheasants, including the four different subspecies, are found in the tropical rainforest regions of Thailand, Malaya, Sumatra, and Borneo. The crested fireback range map is spread out over this area.

What is a crested fireback's habitat?

Crested fireback pheasants live in old forests near rivers and secondary forests in lowland forests that occur in areas of Sumatra, Borneo, and Thai coastal regions.

Who do crested firebacks live with?

The male crested fireback is known to be very territorial. Thus, it is uncommon to see bigger flocks of these birds living together.

How long does a crested fireback live?

The average lifespan of the crested fireback in the wild has been observed to be around four to six years.

How do they reproduce?

The Bornean and Malayan crested fireback breeding season starts around May, when the hen lays a clutch of about four to eight eggs which are creamy-white in color. The incubation period lasts for about 24 days for both species and their subspecies during the breeding season. The young hatchlings closely resemble the hen, and their upper wing coverts have distinct black spots. It takes roughly three years for the adult male of this species' plumage to fully mature.

What is their conservation status?

The crested fireback from Thailand, Sumatra, and Borneo has been evaluated as a Vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Habitat loss and excessive overhunting may have been contributing factors to its declining population as a threatened species.

What do crested firebacks look like?

To watch these birds put on a show in nature is a sight beyond words! Any description of the crested fireback will mention its bright blue coloring. A male Bornean crested fireback pheasant has a bluish-black body which has a notable metallic sheen. They also have brown central tail feathers, paired with white-colored legs, and a brownish-red belly. Females, on the other hand, are brown birds that have a short crest and dark black tails. The tail of this brown bird is chestnut brown in color, their belly is colored black and white. Their legs too are white. These features are in contrast to Vieilott's crested fireback hen. Both Bornean crested fireback female and male birds have blue facial skin and crests that inspire their names, although males have bigger crests whilst females have short crests.

How cute are they?

These majestic birds are really beautiful to look at. The male crested fireback's dark crest, brownish-red rump, brown central tail feathers, and striking blue facial skin paired with its vibrant red eyes give it an elegant look. At the same time, the female has a short crest and is spotted black and white, which, although not as eye-catching, still is pretty.

How do they communicate?

You can hear the sharp squeals and loud wing whirrs and croaks that these birds make to communicate with each other in their forest habitats. As pleasant as these beautiful birds are to look at, their loud voices can sometimes be quite annoying!

How big is a crested fireback?

The Bornean crested fireback peafowl male is larger than the female and it has an average length between 2.1-2.3 ft (65-70 cm). A female has an average length of around 1.8 ft (54.8 cm). Their length range is smaller than that of other species like turkeys and emus.

How fast can a crested fireback fly?

There is no recorded data on the flying speed of the crested fireback forest pheasant, more research needs to be conducted to calculate their average speed.

How much does a crested fireback weigh?

While the male weighs between the range of 4.0-5.7 lb (1.8-2.6 kg), the female is lighter, measuring about 3.5 lb (1.6 kg). Their average weight range is slightly more than that of vulturine guineafowls.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Male Bornean crested fireback pheasants may be called peacocks, while females are called a hen.

What would you call a baby crested fireback?

Baby birds of this species are known as Bornean and Malayan crested fireback pheasant chicks.

What do they eat?

The crested fireback has a varied diet, including both plants and insects. The crested fireback may indulge in fruits as part of their diet and, being an omnivore, their diet also includes smaller animals.

Are they poisonous?

No, these birds are not poisonous.

Would they make a good pet?

No, this bird is not a conventional choice as a pet, and it is worth the risk of owning them as a pet as they are a vulnerable species.

Did you know...

The Bornean crested fireback lays between four to eight creamy white eggs during the breeding season. Unlike other pheasants, their reproduction and breeding season is much later in the year. The incubation period lasts for about 24 days and a female crested fireback can lay up to 24 eggs in a year.

How did crested firebacks get their name?

A crested fireback is one of the coolest names you can imagine for a bird. The origin of the name can be understood by looking closely at these magnificent birds. These birds have distinct crests on their head like peacocks, which explains the first half of their name. The bird's orange underbelly and yellowish tail are responsible for the second part of the name: fireback. This beautiful coloration makes these birds unique.

Are crested firebacks endangered?

Unfortunately, due to human activities resulting in the destruction of their habitat, the crested fireback is a vulnerable species. It is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in their latest evaluation of population data for this species, but it is not yet classified as Endangered.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other birds from our northern gannet facts and flycatcher facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable crested myna coloring pages.