Malayan Peacock-Pheasant

     The Malayan Peacock-Pheasant, also known as the Crested Peacock-Pheasant or the Malaysian Peacock-Pheasant, is a Pheasant found in the Malay Peninsula, possibly including extreme southern Thailand. It belongs to the Peacock-Pheasants’ family which consists of a group of pheasants that possess prominent round eye-shaped spots (ocelli) on their plumage.

     The Malayan Peacock-Pheasant is a beautiful specimen indeed with its warm brown plumage, with distinctive green ocelli on the mantle and wings. Males can be distinguished from other Peacock-Pheasants by a combination of the base color of the plumage, the presence of buff colored rings surrounding each ocellus, their orange facial skin and their crest. Female Malayan Peacock-Pheasants are smaller in size, and possess only a very short crest. They also tend to be darker in color, have shorter tails, and a yellower facial skin.

     The Malayan Peacock-Pheasant’s breeding season isn’t well resolved. But recently used nests have been found in March, April and August. Breeding activity may occur essentially all year around as in many lowland rainforest birds. the Malayan Peacock-Pheasant is unusual in laying just one, very large egg in comparison ti its size, which is then incubated for 22 – 23 days.