Siamese Fireback

Portrait of a Prelate pheasant cock

The prelate pheasant ( Lophura diardi ) is a Hühnervogelart from the family of pheasant -like. It is located in eastern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The species is threatened by increasing use of forests and hunting.

Description

The tap this pretty slim Fasanenart carries on the schwarzbefiederten a head up to 90 mm ​​long tuft of ragged, black feathers, which is situated in excitement. Since the shafts of these feathers are bare, the feathered part acts like a pennant. The featherless eye region is intensely red and shows striking face cloth. The iris is red to reddish brown, horn-colored beak blackish. The body plumage is gray on the neck, chest and the front back and carries a fine corrugated drawing. The entire underside is black with very broad, glossy blue seams. The wing length is 220-240 mm. The elytra show a black wave drawing on a gray background and black wide, fine white -lined bands. The wings are brownish gray. In the middle of the back there is a broad, golden yellow field; the feathers of the lower back, the rump and upper tail-coverts smaller metallic shine blue and wear dark coppery red seams. The larger upper tail-coverts are black with metallic iridescent sheen. The tail feathers of 33-63 cm long tail are broad and curved. They are dark greyish and metallic shine. The legs are spurred carmine and long.

The head of the hen is pale brownish, the featherless red eyes, but not so extended and not extended lobes as the cock. Lower neck, back, chest and the upper part of the underside are bright chestnut color, the lower abdomen light gray. On the back there is a black, wavy drawing the feathers of the lower breast and flanks are lined with white. Wing, lower back, upper tail-coverts and middle pair of tail feathers are black with a isabellfarbenen, finely speckled black banding. The other springs of 22 to 26 cm long tail are chestnut brown color. The wing length is 220-240 mm. The legs are carmine as the cock.

The rooster weighs about 1180, the chicken 890 g

Voice

The Revierruf of the Rooster is described as whistling, and is followed by a whirring wings. Another call, which is often put forward ranked, is a loud pi -ju. In addition, sometimes a quiet chuckle to hear.

Distribution and population

The monotypic species inhabited the east of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and the southern and central regions of Vietnam. In Thailand, it is scattered in front, the stock is estimated to be up to 5,000 birds. In the other countries the distribution is widespread and locally common. By increasing forest use and partly intensive hunting the stocks have declined in the last ten years by 30%. The world population is estimated to 5000-10.000 birds. The IUCN therefore leads the way on the early warning ( " near threatened ").

Way of life

The prelate pheasant preferred inhabits evergreen and partly deciduous forests and bamboo forests, but also occurs in dense secondary vegetation and bushland. It is found mainly in the lowlands, partly in heights up to 800 m. We often find him near roads or forest aisles.

The species is probably monogamous. In typical for many Gamebird Seitenbalz the cock fanning the tail, turns the body with drooping wings of the females and presents in particular the colored areas of the rear back. The incubation period is probably around mid-April and early May. The nest consists of 5-8 reddish beige eggs, which are short and plump and measuring 48 × 38 mm. They are incubated for about 23 days.