Bulwer's Pheasant

Taxobox
name = Bulwer's Pheasant


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Bulwer's Pheasant, "Lophura bulweri"
status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Galliformes
familia = Phasianidae
genus = "Lophura"
species = "L. bulweri"
binomial = "Lophura bulweri"
binomial_authority = (Sharpe, 1874)

Bulwer's Pheasant ("Lophura bulweri") is also known as Bulwer's Wattled Pheasant, the Wattled Pheasant, or the White-tailed Wattled Pheasant. It is a Southeast Asian bird in the "Phasianidae" family; endemic to the forests of Borneo. The species is currently listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Description

Bulwer's Pheasant is sexually dimorphic. Males (c.80cm) 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 (c.55cm) are an overall dull brown color with red legs and blue facial skin.

Distribution and Habitat

The Bulwer's Pheasant is endemic to the island of Borneo; it is only found in regions of Indonesia (i.e. Kalimantan), Brunei, and Malaysia (i.e. Sabah and Sarawak). While the species is locally common in protected areas (e.g. Kayan Mentarang National Park, Kalimantan) it is rarely found elsewhere. The bird inhabits Montane tropical forest, likely preferring highland rainforests and rarely visiting the lowlands. 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. 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 [Roach J. "Vanishing Borneo Pheasants Look Great but Won't Mate" National Geogrpahic News. April 2005] .

Captivity

This species is very rare;y kept in zoos. The only western zoo to currently house the species is San Diego which keeps a pair of these birds. Walsrdoe bird park in Germany have kept the birds as recently as 2003, and Antwerp, Belgium, have bred the birds. ASntwerp have been very successful with many of the lophura genus.

Taxonomy

Bulwer's pheasant belongs to the order "Galliformes", in the "Phasianidae" family. The family name "Lophura" is derived from the Greek word "lophos" for ridge, crest or tuft. The species name "bulweri" was named after the English naturalist James Bulwer.

References

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=261&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=12337 IUCN Red List]
* gbwf.org - [http://www.gbwf.org/pheasants/bulwers.html Bulwer's Pheasant "(Lophura bulweri)"]