Polyplectron katsumatae
The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae) is a strikingly beautiful and exceptionally rare galliform, endemic to Hainan Island, China. This medium-sized pheasant measures approximately 50-65 cm in length, with males being slightly larger and more ornate than females. Distinctive field marks for the male include a brilliant metallic blue-green crest, an iridescent dark blue head and neck, and a body adorned with numerous vibrant ocelli - eye-spots of metallic blue, green, and viole...
This pheasant inhabits dense, evergreen broadleaf forests, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions of central and western Hainan Island, typically at elevations between 200 and 1500 meters.
Primarily omnivorous, its diet consists of invertebrates such as insects, spiders, and mollusks, supplemented with seeds, berries, and fallen fruits gleaned from the forest floor.
The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant is a highly elusive and terrestrial species, active primarily during the early morning and late afternoon hours, typically retreating to dense cover or low tree branches to roost at night. Foraging occurs on the forest floor, where individuals meticulously scratch and ...
The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant is strictly endemic to Hainan Island, a large tropical island off the southern coast of mainland China. Its historical distribution covered much of the island's interior, but due to extensive habitat degradation and fragmentation, its current range is severely restrict...
Critically Endangered
- The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant was only formally described in 1906, making it one of the later discovered peacock-pheasant species. - Its scientific name, *katsumatae*, honors Japanese natural history collector Katsumata, who first collected specimens for study. - The male's iridescent ocelli, or ...