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Borneo is well-known for its endemism, harbouring many species not found elsewhere on earth. For birdwatchers, seeing these Bornean endemics is one of the main reasons for visiting the third-largest island in the world. And sitting right on top of the must-see list is the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant.

This rare pheasant has historically been very difficult to see. However, this bird has been making headlines in the birdwatching community over the last few years. Seemingly out of nowhere, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant started being seen regularly near the small town of Telupid, Sabah. The otherwise unremarkable town is suddenly thrust into the global limelight as flocks of birdwatchers made a beeline here to see this otherwise impossible bird.

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant

Over the last few years, many birders have come to Sabah to see the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant. However, some might not know anything else about this bird. Therefore, this article aims to provide additional information on this species. Hopefully, this article will also raise awareness of the importance of conserving this precious species.

This article’s information and photos are based on my visit to Telupid in September 2024. The main reference material used is the excellent Phillips’ Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, the Birds of Malaysia by Lynx Edicions, and eBird.

Information on the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant

This species is relatively poorly known, primarily due to its scarcity and reclusiveness.

Taxonomy

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron schleiermacheri) is part of the gamebird family, Phasianidae. This family includes pheasants, partridges, quails, peacocks, and the humble domestic chicken.

Among the family, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is part of the genus Polyplectron, or peacock-pheasants. Eight species occur around Asia. Within this group, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is most closely related to the Palawan Peacock-Pheasant and Malayan Peacock-Pheasant. Indeed, the latter species looks quite similar, differing only in a few details.

Description of the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant:

Male:

Orange-red skin around the eyes
Iridescent purple-blue crest. When the male ruffles up his crest in the sunlight, the shimmering effect is show-stopping!
Metallic green neck/breast feathers, with a white line in the middle running up the neck.
Brown upperparts, with fine vermiculations (small, squiggly lines) throughout.
Black belly.
The wings and tail feathers have iridescent ‘eyespots’ or ocelli (singular – ocellus). The colour of these ocelli depends on the angle of the light, ranging from green to blue.
These ocelli are larger on his tail feathers.
The male spreads his feathers when he displays to the female, fully showcasing the ‘eyespots’.
It’s also possible that the male uses these ‘eyespots’ to startle and discourage would-be predators.

Female:

Brown overall
Dull red facial skin
The female has black spots on her wings, instead of ‘eyespots’,
There’s only one row of ‘eyespots’ on her tail.
Juveniles resemble the females, with males gradually developing their adult plumage as they age.

Ocelli of female Bornean Peacock-Pheasant — This photo shows a single row of ocelli on the female’s tail.

Vocalisations

Unknown, until relatively recently. Two types of vocalisations are frequently heard at Telupid:

Call: A harsh, honking sound, akin to a high-pitched quack.
Song: A two-note whistle, with the second note louder than the first.

Confusion species

The male Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is unique in Borneo and unmistakable. However, the more demure females might be mistaken for other female gamebirds:

The female Great Argus has a blue head and lacks the Peacock-Pheasant’s tail ‘eyespots’. It’s also much larger.
The female Bornean Crested Fireback also lacks the ‘eyespots’, and has scaly underparts.
Female Bulwer’s Pheasants have blue facial skin and are wholly brown without any other markings.
All the above birds are also more common than the Peacock-Pheasant. You’ll need to be extremely lucky to encounter the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant in the wild

Range, distribution and habitat

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is endemic to Borneo. Within the island, it can theoretically occur throughout lowland and lower montane forests. However, it’s often absent from otherwise suitable habitats.

Encounters with this bird have been sporadic, at best. Sungai Wain near Balikpapan, Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) was previously the best place to see it. Now, the small forest reserve near Telupid in Sabah offers birdwatchers the best and easiest chance of seeing this special species.

Their preferred habitat is primary lowland dipterocarp forest. It’s possible that this species prefers drier areas and ridges instead of level terrain. Moreover, some records from logged and/or burned forests exist, indicating that the species can survive in disturbed habitats.

Like other pheasants, the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant is a ground-dwelling bird. It is naturally rare as well as exceptionally shy and reclusive. This is likely the reason so little is known about its biology, behaviour, and distribution.

Conservation status

Very little is known about the populations of this bird in the wild. However, with large-scale deforestation continuing throughout Borneo, their population will likely decline. As a result, IUCN and BirdLife International classify this species as Endangered (EN).

The main threat to this species’ survival is habitat loss. Like everywhere else in the world, Borneo’s rainforests are vanishing at an alarming rate. Every year, more suitable habitats for this bird (and other flora and fauna) disappear forever. Combined with this species’ naturally low population densities, it’s not difficult to see how their long-term future remains uncertain.

Hopefully, the continued success of the Telupid bird hide highlights the economic viability and importance of conserving special species such as this bird. This will ultimately help secure the long-term future of the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant in Sabah and Borneo.

Where to see the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant in Malaysia?

Currently, the only reliable location to see this bird is a paid hide near Telupid, Sabah. This hide is managed by Bestaria Eco-tourism, a cooperative formed by locals from the nearby village of Kampung Bestaria.

As of October 2024, the chances of seeing the bird at this hide are very good. However, as with any wildlife encounter, there’s always a chance the subjects will not show up.

For more information on visiting this hide, check out the following article:

Telupid Bornean Peacock-Pheasant Hide

Plumage of male Bornean Peacock-Pheasant — The male bird often appears first and checks that the coast is clear before calling the female to come. This photo shows the metallic green breast and white line in the middle.

Tips to observe and/or photograph it

At the hide, you need only wait for the bird(s) to show up. Their appearance times vary, but early morning is the best. Keep unnecessary sounds to a minimum, as these birds are still quite skittish.

Photographing them is challenging, as lighting at the hide is often quite poor. Try the following tips:

A tripod is essential to minimise camera shake.
At least 400mm to 600mm lenses, as the birds are often at a reasonable distance away.
A ‘fast’ lens is of great benefit. For slower lenses (like mine), you’ll likely have to open the aperture fully and increase the ISO.
High ISO settings, while undesirable, are often necessary.
Additionally, using silent mirrorless cameras will reduce the chances of startling the birds. For DSLR users (like me), try to use the quiet shutter modes, if available.

Other tips:

Like many pheasants, the birds walk slowly, stopping now and then to scan their surroundings. Wait for them to stop before shooting to minimise motion blur.
The area may become brighter in mid-morning, and the bird may walk into sunlit areas. Time your shots carefully, and you’ll capture the gorgeous iridescence of the male’s feathers in the sun.
If a chick is present, it will follow its mother closely. Get them together in one frame.
The male will occasionally display to the female, which makes for jaw-dropping photos!
Lastly, the hide has two sections. The newer, smaller section provides better view angles (from my experience).

Photo of Bornean Peacock-Pheasant male — Wait for the bird to pause temporarily, then shoot away! In this photo, the bird is partially ruffling up his feathers.

Conclusion

If there’s only one Bornean bird for any birdwatcher to see, then it must be the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant. This spectacular species is found nowhere else on earth. Very few people have historically encountered this bird, let alone observed and photographed it.

Telupid in Sabah is undoubtedly the most reliable and easily accessible location to see this rare and endangered Bornean endemic. Therefore, don’t miss this chance to see the Bornean Peacock-Pheasant in Sabah!

REFERENCES

Phillipps, Q. & Phillipps, K. (2014). Phillips’ Field Guide To The Birds of Borneo. Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan (Third edition). John Beaufoy Publishing, Oxford, England.

Puan, C.L., Davison, G. & Lim, K.C. (2020). Birds of Malaysia. Covering Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysian Borneo and Singapore. Lynx and BirdLife International Field Guides. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bornean Peacock-pheasant Polyplectron schleiermacheri. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bornean-peacock-pheasant-polyplectron-schleiermacheri on 10/10/2024.

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant

The Bornean Peacock-Pheasant