Great Argus

     The Great Argus is a Pheasant native to the jungles of Borneo, Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula in southeast Asia. It’s somehow related to the Crested Argus, and they share the name ‘Argus’ (a hundred-eyed giant in Greek mythology) due to the many eyes-like pattern on their wings.

     Great Argus males are among the most unusual and distinctive of all birds. They are unmistakable with their long wing and tail feathers, which are decoratively adorned with complex patterns of eye-spots (ocelli). The Great Argus cock is a brown pheasant with a blue head and neck, and a rufous-red upper breast. He has also black hair-like feathers on his crown and nape, and bright-red legs. Young Great Argus males usually attain adult plumage in their third year. The females are smaller and duller than males, with shorter tails and less ocelli.

     Great Argus birds are solitary for most of the year, except when females visit male courtship arenas to breed. The female lays two eggs in a secluded scrape on the forest floor, and incubates them for 24 – 25 days. While, the male Great Argus takes no part in nesting, incubation, or rearing of the young. There are two subspecies for this bird that are distributed across its finding range. The first one is the ‘Bornean Great Argus’ and the second one is the ‘Malaysian Great Argus’.