The Red-bellied Hill Partridge lives in Sumatra's moist montane forests and searches for food on the forest floor among fallen leaves.
Its grayish head and neck have a white eyebrow, while the red bill and legs stand out. Fine black-and-white bars cross the upper breast.
Red-billed Partridges inhabit Sumatra’s mountain forests, walking through leaf litter to forage. Small chewing lice also occur on this bird, linking the forest-dwelling host with insects living on its body.
In 2023, researchers described a louse from this host as Reticulipeurus (Forcipurellus) diki. The examined material included specimens collected in Sumatra in December 1900 and other Sumatran specimens without a collection date. The newly named species was therefore represented partly by century-old material.
The description included illustrations of males and females and details of the head, antennae and abdomen. Naming the louse connected its identity with that of its bird host, adding another piece to the diversity documented through preserved specimens.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
A 2023 study modelled future suitable habitat for Southeast Asian galliforms, including Red-billed Partridge, using climate and land-use projections. The authors recommend establishing or adjusting protected areas with future habitat suitability and both environmental pressures in mind.