Siamese fireback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siamese fireback |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lophura
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| Species: |
diardi
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The Siamese fireback (Lophura diardi), also called Diard's fireback, is a beautiful bird that looks a lot like a pheasant. It grows to be about 80 cm (31 in) long. This amazing bird lives in the forests of Southeast Asia. It's even the national bird of Thailand!
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Meet the Siamese Fireback
The male Siamese fireback is quite striking. It has mostly grey feathers. Its face has a large, red, fleshy patch called a caruncle. Its legs and feet are crimson, a deep red color.
It also has fancy black feathers on its head that look like a crest. Its eyes have reddish-brown irises, and its long, curved tail is blackish.
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The female Siamese fireback looks different from the male. She is a brown bird. Her wings and tail feathers are darker, almost blackish. This helps her blend in with her surroundings.
Where Do They Live?
Siamese firebacks live in the lowland and evergreen forests of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries are all in a region called Southeast Asia.
This bird is very special in Thailand. It has been chosen as Thailand's national bird.
Raising a Family
Female Siamese firebacks usually lay between four and eight eggs. The eggs are a pretty rosy color.
How the Siamese Fireback Got Its Name
The scientific name for this bird is Lophura diardi. The second part of its name, diardi, honors a French naturalist named Pierre-Médard Diard. He was a person who studied nature.
A Special Thai Name
In Thailand, the Siamese fireback has a common name: Kai Fah Phaya Lo. This means "Lord Lo's pheasant." This name comes from an old Thai folk story called Lilit Phra Lo.
In the story, the main character, Phra Lo, is charmed by a pheasant. He follows the bird and eventually meets two sisters, Phra Phuean and Phra Phaeng. They later become his lovers.
Protecting the Siamese Fireback
For a while, the Siamese fireback faced some challenges. Their homes, called habitats, were being lost. Also, too many of them were being hunted in some areas.
Because of these problems, the bird was once listed as "Near Threatened" on the IUCN Red List. The IUCN Red List is a list that shows how much danger different animals are in.
However, things have gotten better for the Siamese fireback! Now, it is listed as "Least Concern." This means that experts believe it is not in danger of disappearing right now.
Images for kids
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Siamese fireback in captivity - Florida, USA
See also
- National symbols of Thailand
