Reproduction

The male great argus pheasant will take up a position within a forest clearing. He lets out a series of loud calls to attract females and then performs a dance for them in which he spreads the large wings and tail feathers.

After mating the male has no further involvement with the female leaving her alone to build the nest and raise there young.

Females will deposit the eggs in to a hollow which is lined with grass. The two eggs are colored creamy white. These are incubated for 25 days.

Males begin to develop their train of feathers at 3 years old and they fully grow in over the next four years as they moult.

Sexual maturity is reached by three years old.

Behavior

Males are unable to fly long distances due to the long train of feathers and their enlarged feathers. Females are much more successful in flight.

Outside of the breeding season these animals are primarily solitary.

The "kwow wow" call of the male is able to carry for several miles through the forest. Most of their calls are made around sunrise and sunset.

Predators and Threats

The most recently available survey of great argus pheasant numbers placed their population at over 100,000 individuals. It is generally accepted though that their population is in decline and the species has already gone extinct in Singapore.

Threats to their survival include the destruction of the forests which they inhabit. This is driven by logging and conversion to agriculture. Drought also impacts them.

These animals are collected to be sold in to the pet trade and to gather their feathers and for use in food.

Quick facts

They are also known as the Malay argus pheasant.

Carolus Linnaeus named the great argus pheasant.

Their name is drawn from the character Argus in Greek mythology. He was a giant with a hundred eyes similar to the many eye spots on the great argus pheasant.

Great argus pheasants are the only living members of their genus, Argusianus.