Source: NIE
Context: The Siamese Fireback, Thailand’s national bird, has been spotted for the first time in the forests of Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, by a local bird enthusiast.
About Siamese Fireback:
- Scientific Name: Lophura diardi
- National Bird: Thailand
- IUCN Status: Least Concern, though facing moderate decline due to habitat loss and poaching.
- Geographic Distribution: Native to Southeast Asia, found in: Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
- Habitat Preferences:
- Prefers dense evergreen forests and deciduous woodlands.
- Often avoids human disturbance and thrives in humid, secluded terrain.
- Sighted recently in high-altitude Himalayan Forest, suggesting range flexibility and habitat resilience.
- Physical Features:
- Males: Metallic blue-black body, fiery red-orange rump patch, red facial skin, and elegant white tail feathers.
- Females: Mottled brown and black plumage for camouflage.
- Biological and Behavioural Traits:
- Omnivorous: Feeds on seeds, fruits, insects, and small creatures by foraging on the forest floor.
- Shy and elusive: More often heard than seen; prefers forest solitude.
- Breeding Season: March to June. Males perform spectacular courtship dances to attract females.
- Nesting: Females lay 4–6 eggs in ground nests, well-hidden in dense undergrowth.
