Saturday 25 May Siamese fireback (Lophura diardi) What’s the
World’s Favourite Species?Find out here. Siamese fireback fact
file - Find out more - Print factsheet Siamese fireback
description The striking male Siamese fireback is most notable
for its unusually long crest of purple-black feathers, which
reaches up to 9 cm in length and becomes erect when the bird is
excited (2) (3). The breast, neck and upper back are mostly grey
with very fine vermiculations, and the belly and head are black
with the head decorated with large scarlet-red facial wattles
(2) (3). The name ‘fireback’ refers to the yellow plumage in the
middle of the back, a feature shared with other firebacks (3).
However, this species can be distinguished by its characteristic
pattern of metallic blue with coppery-crimson fringes on the
lower back, together with its red legs and long, curved tail,
which is black with a metallic blue-green sheen (3) (4). The
female is also quite distinct from other Lophura hens, most
noticeably in having black u