Palawan Peacock Pheasant

Range:
The island of Palawan in the Philippines.

Habitat:
primary and secondary forests on flat and rolling land

Size:
Male: Length: ~20 in; Weight: ~21 oz
Female: Length ~16 in; Weight: ~18 oz

Young:
normally 2 buff white eggs.

Incubation:
18-19 days.

Diet (wild):
Insectivore/opportunistic: seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, leaves, roots, insects, worms and slugs

Diet (zoo):
Chopped greens, and vegetables.

Lifespan (wild):
Unknown

Lifespan (captivity):
up to 15 years.

Status:
Vulnerable, CITES I

Threats:
Loss and fragmentation of habitat, hunting, and trade

Anatomy/Physiology:
It has a long pointed crest, crown and neck which are dark metallic green. The breast, mantle, flanks and wings are dark metallic greenish-blue and black. The facial skin around the eye is red with a white patch under the eye. There are no eyespots on the rump, but rather very fine, wavy, crosswise color markings of white, black, and chestnut. There are large, blue-green eyespots on the tail feathers that are separated by black bands and the tip of the tail is a buff color. The females are very drab. Their crest is shorter and often held flat; their face is pale gray that extends from above the eyes to the throat. The rest of the plumage is dark brown, with no eyespots.

Social/Family units:
Scientists disagree whether they are monogamous or polygamous. They can be found in small groups or pairs.

Habits:
They have an elaborate courtship ritual. In this display, a male first gets a female's attention with courtship feeding. He spreads the feathers of its lower neck and mantle, and bobs his head with a tantalizing bit of food in his beak. The male then will drop the food where the female can see it. If she takes the food, then the male will do a dazzling lateral display posture that best shows off all the eyespots on the tail and tail coverts. His crest is erected and pointed diagonally forwards. He also makes a long hissing sound while walking circles around the female. If all goes as planned she will accept him for breeding.

Communication:
It makes a loud angk sound that is repeated regularly.

Defensive/Aggressive behavior:
The males have spurs that are used in territorial fighting.

Prey items:
seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, leaves, roots, insects, worms and slugs

Predators:
Rats, feral cats.

Locomotion:
Walking, and short flights.

Activity:
diurnal

Interesting story/facts:
They are very shy birds and they are rarely seen in the wild. They adapt easily and breed well in captivity.