Thailand is home to a striking and graceful species of pheasant—the Siamese Fireback, also known as Diard's Fireback. Officially recognized as the national bird of Thailand in 2003, this majestic bird stands out with its vibrant feathers and elegant posture. This bright appearance makes it easy for people to recognize it.
The bird gets its name from a French naturalist, Pierre-Médard Diard, who extensively documented the wildlife of Southeast Asia back in the 19th century.
Physical Characteristics of Siamese Fireback
The Siamese Fireback is a medium-sized pheasant with colorful plumage. It has distinct features between the sexes.
The male Siamese Fireback shows off silver-grey feathers and a longer black tail, which makes it more charming during courtship. Meanwhile, the female Siamese Fireback is more modest in appearance with brownish plumage, which helps them blend into the forest surroundings for protection.
Both males and females possess strong red legs and a unique red facial patch, which further adds to their distinctive appearance.
How Do Siamese Fireback Act in Nature?
The Siamese Fireback often moves in a couple or a small group. It is a type of omnivore, which is a bird that eats plants and animals. Their strong legs help them dig the forest floor to get worms, snails, small land crabs, and other ground insects. They also eat seeds, shoots, fallen fruits, berries, etc.
The Siamese Fireback is known for its bright appearance and graceful behavior. It walks elegantly. You will see their gracefulness more during the mating season when the male Siamese Fireback performs a courtship display by fanning his tail, raising his crest, and surrounding the female.
Besides being useful in searching for food, their strong legs also help them to run when there is a predator or any danger approaching.
Why Was Siamese Fireback Chosen as Thailand’s National Bird?
Deep cultural and historical ties with Thailand are the reasons why the Siamese Fireback is chosen to be the national bird of Thailand. Thailand’s values of grace, calmness, and balance with nature are perfectly reflected in the Siamese Fireback, which is also seen as a symbol of beauty, strength, and pride.
Historically, the ancient Thai kings and warriors also admired the bird’s beauty and dignified behavior.
Culturally, this bird also often appeared in old Thai literature and murals. One of the most famous stories in Thailand is the story of Lilit Phra Lo. It is said that the Siamese Fireback leads the hero to his destined loves, two sisters of Phra Phuean and Phra Phaeng.
All of these strong cultural symbolisms made the Siamese Fireback a natural and meaningful choice as the national bird of Thailand.
Natural Habitat and Where to Find Siamese Fireback
The Siamese Fireback thrives in lowland evergreen forests with thick undergrowth and bamboo groves. This pheasant species can also be found in some areas in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam.
In Thailand, Khao Yai National Park, Phu Khieo Wildlife Sanctuary, and some other protected forests in central and eastern Thailand are top locations to see the bird.
The Siamese fireback prefers to forage for food during the cooler period of the day. Given that, dawn and dusk are the best times for you to spot them in their natural habitat.
Conservation Status
The Siamese Fireback is not currently endangered. However, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categorizes the bird as Near Threatened. It implies they may face some risks if there is no continued conservation effort.
Thailand has taken a step to protect the Siamese Fireback by developing the national park and wildlife sanctuary. Wildlife law also restricts anyone from hunting and keeping the Siamese fireback and considers it an illegal act.
By being the national bird of Thailand, the Siamese Fireback is not merely a bird. It represents Thailand’s natural elegance and cultural heritage.
