Fun Facts! 

The Argus has a prominent place in Greek mythology as a bird-giant with a hundred eyes.

The Argus has one of the loudest calls of all birds. The call is used to locate family members and ward off predators and pests.

Malay Great Argus Pheasant

Argusianus argus

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

This is a brown-feathered pheasant with a small blue head and neck, a red upper breast, black hair-like feathers on crown and nape, and red legs. The male is among the largest of all pheasants, up to six feet or more in length. It has very long tail feathers. The male's most spectacular feature is its huge, broad and greatly elongated secondary wing feathers, decorated with large ocelli, or fake eyes. The female is smaller and duller than male, with shorter tails and less ocelli. Young males reach their adult plumage in their third year.

HABITAT

Forested areas of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula.

DIET IN THE WILD

Any fruits, grains and insects it can find on the forest floor.

BEHAVIOR

Very calm and gentle, but not a social bird among its own kind. Argus pheasants stay in families, the male and female affectionately attending each other and their young. Male courting is a sight to behold! The male clears an open spot in the forest and prepares a dancing ground. He announces himself with loud calls to attract females, then dances before them with wings spread into two enormous fans, revealing hundreds of those “eyes” (while his REAL eyes are hidden behind the fan).

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Listed as vulnerable, but not endangered. The population of the species is declining and deforestation is becoming a greater issue. The greatest threat is habitat destruction, and some habitat rescue is beginning.

LIFE SPAN

The pheasant is known to live up to 15 years in zoos, considerably less than that in the wild.