This elusive bird is endemic to lowland forests of Borneo.

[3] The pheasant is up to 50 cm long, rufous brown and black spotted, with an elongated crest and nape feathers, black below and bare red skin around bluish iris eye.

Its twenty-two tail feathers are decorated with large blue-green ocelli, which may be spread fan-like in display.

The rectrices of the Bornean species are morphologically and patterned intermediate between Palawan and Malayan peacock-pheasants.

Because of ongoing habitat loss, small population size, and limited range, the Bornean peacock-pheasant is evaluated as Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.