Red-breasted Partridge

Overview

The red-breasted partridge, also known as the Bornean hill-partridge, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae endemic to Borneo. It is assessed as a species of least concern by the IUCN.

Identification

• Approximately 27 cm long, with a bright chestnut breast and whitish belly.
• Blackish-brown band through the eye, grey or rufous supercilium, and rufous cheeks and throat.
• Grey eyes, black beak, pink legs, and black-and-white flanks.
• Call is a duet consisting of rising 'chu' notes and falling 'cuckoo' notes.

Habitat

This species is endemic to north-central Borneo, including parts of Sabah, Sarawak, North Kalimantan, and northern Central Kalimantan. It inhabits primary and secondary hill and montane forests at elevations between 600 and 1,800 m, preferring bamboos and thickets.

Diet

Feeds in groups on seeds, fruits, and insects, foraging in thickets, on forest roads, and near rivers.

Did you know?

The bright plumage on the face, which previously led to the population on Mount Kinabalu being described as a distinct subspecies, has been suggested to be due to age differences.