Biology
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With fruit forming an important component of the diet, Bulwer's pheasant is thought to be nomadic, moving around according to the fruiting cycle of different trees, and even forming a curious association with wild pigs, in which groups follow the pigs to areas where fallen fruit is abundant (7). As the pigs root around the forest floor for food, they also unearth tubers and bulbs, as well as grubs, and the birds eat what is discarded (8). Insects appear to play an important role in the diet, particularly ants, but also termites and small crickets, as do worms and crayfish, as well as a variety of seeds (4) (7).
Observations of males and females with their young suggest that this pheasant may be monogamous. The breeding season appears to be long, and perhaps rather changeable, possibly being stimulated in part by fruiting events, and therefore at different periods from year to year (7). During courtship, males strut slowly about, inflating their blue facial wattles and raising and spreading their impressive tail (2) (6). Clutch size is between two and five eggs, which are incubated for 24 to 25 days in captivity (4). It appears to take at least three years for these pheasants to reach maturity (7).
Conservation
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Bulwer's pheasant is protected by law in Kalimantan, Indonesia, and in Sarawak, Malaysia, and has recently been recorded in at least six protected areas (5). It has been argued that a vibrant zoo population of Bulwer's pheasants could help raise awareness of its conservation needs in Borneo, but the difficulty of captive breeding is a serious constraint (9).
Description
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The male Bulwer's pheasant is undoubtedly one of the most striking of all pheasants (3), notable for its voluminous, gleaming white tail and distinctive, brilliant blue facial skin and wattles, which are distended to spectacular effect during courtship (4). These ornamental features, together with the crimson-red legs, stand out in dramatic contrast to the glossy blue-black plumage of the body (5). This dark plumage has indistinct bluish spotting at the tips of upperpart feathers (5) and a lustrous purple sheen to the throat and upper breast (3) (4). Females are smaller and have a dark mottled rufous-brown plumage with fine black vermiculations, dull bluish facial skin and red legs (3) (5) (6).
Habitat
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Found in primary hill forest and lower montane forest, normally from around 300 metres up to at least 1,500 metres above sea level, but occasionally down to around 150 metres (4) (5). It is thought that this species may rely on lowland forest masting events (heavy fruiting), moving to lower ground when fruit is dropped, where feeding concentrations form, and later moving back up into the hills (5).
Range
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Endemic to the island of Borneo, including the provinces of Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysia), Kalimantan (Indonesia), and Brunei (5).
Status
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Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).
Threats
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Extensive and ongoing habitat destruction, particularly of lowland forest, is leaving Bulwer's pheasant with little room to survive (9). Although large stretches of suitable habitat still remain, the fragmentation of the forests through highways and clearings may be cutting off this nomadic species' ability to move around and follow the fruiting cycle of different trees, which may also have a negative impact on breeding (5) (7). Forest loss, degradation and fragmentation are the result of large-scale commercial logging, mining, extensive forest fires, and widespread clearance for rubber and oil-palm plantations (7), with oil-palm being sold to the West to be used in everything from food products to cosmetics and toiletries (9). An additional problem is the disturbance of Bulwer's pheasants by people searching the forest for gaharu, a fungus that infects some trees and creates a resinous wood prized in Asia and the Middle East and sold at a premium price (9). These threats are compounded by widespread hunting for food, and in some places its feathers are used as decorative brushes (7). Illegal trade is believed to occur in Sarawak as the bird can fetch a high price from overseas collectors (7). Meanwhile, this pheasant is not reproducing well in captivity (9).
Bulwer's pheasant
provided by wikipedia EN
Bulwer's pheasant (Lophura bulweri), also known as Bulwer's wattled pheasant, the wattled pheasant or the white-tailed wattled pheasant, is a Southeast Asian bird in the family Phasianidae endemic to the forests of Borneo. It is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
Etymology
Bulwer's pheasant belongs to the order Galliformes, in the family Phasianidae. The genus name Lophura is derived from the Greek word lophos for ridge, crest or tuft. The species name bulweri is after Sir Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer, Governor of Labuan 1871–1875, who presented the type specimen to the British Museum.[2]
Description
Illustration of a female (left) and male (center) by
John Gould from
Birds of Asia, (1850 - 1883).
Bulwer's pheasant is sexually dimorphic. Males have a total length of about 80 centimetres (31 in), and are black-plumaged with a maroon breast, crimson legs, a pure white tail of long, curved feathers, and bright blue facial skin with two wattles that conceal the sides of its head. Females have a total length of about 55 centimetres (22 in), and are an overall dull brown colour with red legs and blue facial skin.
Distribution and habitat
Bulwer's pheasant is endemic to the island of Borneo.[3] While the species is locally common in protected areas (e.g. Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan) it is rarely found elsewhere. The bird inhabits hill and lower montane tropical forest, likely preferring highland rainforests and rarely visiting the lowlands below an altitude of 300 metres (980 ft). The diet consists mainly of fruits, worms, and insects.
Status
Bulwer's pheasant is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to a rapidly declining population.[1] The primary reasons for this decline are habitat loss and fragmentation due to commercial logging and forest fires. Local hunting is also thought to undermine the birds population. Further, captive breeding programs aimed at preserving the species have met with little success.[4] John Roach from National Geographic offers another explanation for their decline in numbers by saying "the birds themselves seem to find each other somewhat less than appealing" in speaking with ornithologist John Rowden of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York City and curator of animals at the Central Park Zoo.[4]
Captivity
This species is very rarely kept in zoos due to mating problems. The only western zoos to house the species are San Diego Zoo which kept three males and the San Antonio Zoo which had a mother-son pair in 2000.[5] Neither zoo currently lists the bird as an exhibit in 2017. Walsrode Bird Park in Germany has kept the birds as recently as 2003, and Antwerp Zoo, Belgium, has bred the birds. Antwerp Zoo has been very successful with many members of the genus Lophura. In Pairi Daiza two males arrived in 2018, which made the zoo at the time the only one in Europe with this species in its collection. This individual has, however, died since, in 2022; due to a fox attack.
References
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Bulwer's pheasant: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Bulwer's pheasant (Lophura bulweri), also known as Bulwer's wattled pheasant, the wattled pheasant or the white-tailed wattled pheasant, is a Southeast Asian bird in the family Phasianidae endemic to the forests of Borneo. It is currently listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
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- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
