Peacock pheasants
| Peacock pheasants | ||||||||||
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Palawan peacock pheasant |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Polyplectron | ||||||||||
| Temminck , 1813 |
The peacock pheasants ( Polyplectron ), sometimes also called mirror peacocks , are a genus within the pheasant-like family (Phasianidae). These are small to medium-sized pheasants, whose range is found exclusively in the tropics and subtropics. Compared with other genera within the pheasant-like species, sexual dimorphism between the sexes is only moderately developed. Characteristic for this genus are iridescent eye patches, which the males of all species have in the tail plumage. They often run in a band there.
Appearance
Brightly colored skin appendages, as the males of other genera of the pheasant-like occasionally show on the head and neck area, are completely absent in this genus. Unfledged areas on the face are usually small and only in a few cases are conspicuously colored.
The magnificent plumage of the male has a rounded to only slightly graduated tail end. A striking color band or a pattern of iridescent eye spots on the tail feathers is characteristic. In both sexes the wings are strongly rounded. A large number of such eye spots, which often shimmer green, can also be found on the feathers of the wings or in the chest area. The display of the plumage by the male plays a major role in courtship behavior.
Characteristics of individual species
The Palawan peacock pheasant is the most geographically isolated species within this genus. Its range is limited to the island of Palawan , where the primeval forests that make up its habitat are increasingly endangered by logging. The species is therefore endangered. No population figures are available for the Borneo mirror peacock, which is closely related to the Palawan peacock . This species lives in the wooded lowlands of Borneo . There is little field observation of this peacock pheasant. Most of the knowledge about its way of life was gained from captive birds.
There is a close relationship between the Borneo mirror peacock and the Malay mirror peacock . Both species have clutches that basically only consist of a single egg. This is unique within the pheasant family and possibly an expression of their ability to breed year-round. For the Malay mirror peacock it has been shown that the females can lay an egg every three to four weeks.
Way of life
Basically, peacock pheasants are birds that can be found in the undergrowth of forests. The majority of the species prefer forests in the lowlands. The Rothschilds peacock pheasant is the only species among the peacock pheasants that has developed into mountain forests as a habitat. On the Malay peninsula, it inhabits forests with dense undergrowth at an altitude of between 900 and 1800 meters.
It is noticeable that many of the species only lay very small clutches. This usually consists of a single egg. However, the females of the peacock pheasants lay several clutches per year, as their tropical habitat does not bind them to a specific breeding season. Different species are estimated to lay between eight and 11 eggs per year.
The eggs are hatched exclusively by the female. Very little is known about the peacock pheasant's way of life in the wild - but it is occasionally considered that there is a sequential polygamy on the part of the male in this genus. That would mean that when the eggs are laid, the male leaves the female and looks for a new partner. From captivity, however, we also know that male parent birds occasionally also give the young bites of food.
Young birds hatch after about 20 to 22 days. You are initially unable to take food from the ground. In the beginning they are at least fed by the female parent bird. At least in captivity, the male parent bird is occasionally involved. The young birds learn relatively quickly to peck for food themselves. In some species, the young birds are very quickly able to catch flying insects. They can occasionally be seen jumping into the air to catch such an insect.
Duration
Several species of peacock pheasants are considered endangered. The cause of their threat is the destruction of their habitats by logging. This is especially true of the Palawan peacock pheasant and the Malay mirror peacock. There are now stud books for both species, through which maintenance breeding is to be controlled in such a way that inbreeding depression is avoided.
In contrast, the gray peacock pheasant is considered safe . This widespread species also uses forests whose structure has changed due to logging.
The species
The following species are usually assigned to the peacock pheasant genus:
- Peacock Pheasants ( Polyplectron ) - 7 species:
- Bronze- tailed peacock pheasant (
- Rothschild peacock pheasant ( P. inopinatum )
- Brown peacock pheasant ( P. germaini )
- Gray peacock pheasant ( P. bicalcaratum )
- Malay peacock pheasant ( P. malacense )
- Borneo peacock pheasant ( P. Schleiermacheri )
- Palawan peacock pheasant ( P. napoleonis ), formerly ( P. emphanum )
swell
Individual evidence
literature
- Paul Johnsgard: Pheasants of the world - Biology and natural history, Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington 1999, ISBN 1-84037-129-3
