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Palawan Peacock Pheasant
Polyplectron napoleonis
The Palawan Peacock Pheasant is a medium-sized ground-dwelling bird. On average they are 18-22 inches tall and weigh 19-22 ounces. Males have an extendable crest on their head, metallic blue wings, and blue spots on their tails. Females are a muted brown but also have spotted tail feathers and a crest.
Range & Habitat
The Palawan Peacock Pheasant is found deep in the rainforest of Palawan Island in the Philippines.
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Appendix I in CITES.
Despite evidence that the population may be larger than estimated, they still qualify as Vulnerable because it’s suspected they are undergoing a rapid decline due to habitat destruction, hunting, and capture for trade
Diet
A variety of seeds, berries, insects, fruits, worms, and slugs.
Life Span
In the Wild: unknown
In Human Care: 15 years
In Human Care: 15 years
Fun Facts about the Palawan Peacock Pheasant
- The Palawan Peacock Pheasant is monogamous and both parents help raise the chick.
- The bright blue spots on their tail resemble eyes and are to scare away predators.
- Males court females with a behavior known as “tidbitting”. He will spread his neck feathers so wide it hides his head. Then, he drops a tidbit of food in front of the female and struts around.
- The island of Palawan where they live is a wildlife refuge.
Sources
Alexandria Zoo. (n.d.). Palawan Peacock Pheasant. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.thealexandriazoo.com/PalawanPeacockPheasant.html
BirdLife International. 2018. Polyplectron napoleonis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22679398A132051467. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22679398A132051467.en. Downloaded on 24 February 2021.
Capron Park Zoo. (2018). Palawan Peacock Pheasant. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from Palawan Peacock Pheasant - Lincoln Park Zoo (lpzoo.org)
St. Louis Zoo. (2021). Palawan Peacock Pheasant. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/birds/pheasantscurassowsguans/palawanpeacockpheasant
Updated June 13, 2023
Location:
Diversity of Birds
