Polyplectron germaini
The Germain's Peacock-Pheasant (*Polyplectron germaini*) is a striking medium-sized gamebird endemic to the lowland forests of Indochina. Males typically measure 55-60 cm in length, including their distinctive tail of 23-27 cm, and weigh between 600-750g, while females are slightly smaller at around 48 cm and 400-500g. Both sexes exhibit cryptic, dull dark brown or grey plumage, but males are distinguished by numerous iridescent metallic blue-green ocelli (eye-spots) adorning their wing cover...
Found primarily in lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, as well as secondary forests and bamboo thickets. It inhabits elevations ranging from sea level up to approximately 1,200 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, feeding on a diverse range of invertebrates including insects (ants, termites, beetles), snails, and earthworms, supplemented with seeds, berries, and small fruits. They forage by scratching through the forest floor's leaf litter.
Germain's Peacock-Pheasants are generally diurnal, foraging most actively during the cooler parts of the early morning and late afternoon, and roosting in trees at night. Their primary foraging strategy involves meticulously scratching through leaf litter on the forest floor using their strong le...
The Germain's Peacock-Pheasant is endemic to the lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Indochina, primarily distributed across southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia. In Vietnam, its range extends through the southern Annam region and Cochinchina, with significant populations recorded in...
Least Concern
- The dazzling iridescent 'eyes' (ocelli) on the male's plumage are thought to be among the most complex photonic structures found in the animal kingdom. - Despite their common name, they are not closely related to true pheasants (genus *Phasianus*), but rather to other peacock-pheasants in Asia....