Great Argus
NameGreat Argus
Common NameGreat Argus
Scientific NameArgusianus argus
FamilyPhasianidae
Wingspan (cm)105
Length (cm)180
Weight (g)2550
Plumage DetailsMales have a small, bare blue head and neck, with the rest of the body covered in rufous-brown plumage intricately patterned with numerous small white ocelli. Their secondary wing feathers and two central tail feathers are greatly elongated and marked with large, eye-like spots. Females are smaller, with a similar blue head but duller, less ornate brown plumage and shorter tails.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its loud, far-carrying, double-noted calls, often described as a resonant 'kwow-wow' or 'kwa-wong', which can be heard echoing through the forest.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsforest
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeFound in the tropical and subtropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, specifically on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo.
Identifying FeaturesVery large size (especially males with extremely long tails), Small, bare blue head and neck, Intricate ocelli (eye-spot) patterns on body and tail feathers, Greatly elongated secondary wing feathers and central tail feathers in males, Ground-dwelling behavior in dense forest
Description
The Great Argus is a large, ground-dwelling pheasant renowned for the male's exceptionally long tail feathers and broad secondary wing feathers, which are used in an elaborate courtship display. This shy bird inhabits dense tropical forests, foraging for food on the forest floor.
