Rheinardia ocellata
The Vietnamese Crested Argus, Rheinardia ocellata, is an extraordinarily secretive and spectacular pheasant species endemic to Southeast Asia. Males are instantly recognizable by their astounding tail feathers, which can reach up to 173 cm (68 inches) in length, making them the longest relative to body size of any bird in the world. Their plumage is a cryptic dark brown, intricately vermiculated with buff or white, crowned by a prominent, stiff crest and adorned with bare blue facial skin. Fe...
Found in subtropical and tropical moist evergreen broadleaf forests, inhabiting hills and lower mountains at elevations typically ranging from 300 to 1,900 meters (1,000-6,200 feet).
An omnivorous ground-forager, its diet consists primarily of insects (termites, beetles), small invertebrates, fallen fruits, berries, seeds, and young leaves.
This reclusive pheasant is primarily diurnal but often most active during the crepuscular hours of dawn and dusk, roosting high in trees at night. Foraging occurs mainly on the forest floor, where it meticulously scratches through leaf litter and soil for food items. Males are highly territorial,...
The Vietnamese Crested Argus is endemic to the Indochinese region of Southeast Asia, primarily found in the Annamite Mountains. Its main distribution spans central and southern Vietnam and central Laos. Historically, it was also thought to occur in Peninsular Malaysia, but that population is now ...
Vulnerable
- The male Vietnamese Crested Argus holds the record for the longest tail feathers relative to body size of any bird in the world. - Males spend significant time meticulously clearing their display arenas of debris, sometimes covering an area several meters in diameter. - The genus name 'Rheinard...