The Hainan peacock-pheasant is an endangered bird that belongs to the pheasant family Phasianidae. This extremely rare species is endemic to the island of Hainan, China.
Region
South China (Hainan Island)
Typical Environment
Occurs in evergreen tropical and montane rainforest with dense undergrowth, including bamboo and rattan thickets. It favors mature forest but will use secondary growth where cover is sufficient. Birds keep close to the forest floor, foraging in leaf litter along ridges and stream valleys. The species’ distribution is highly fragmented and concentrated in a few nature reserves.
Altitude Range
200–1600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This extremely rare peacock-pheasant is confined to the rainforests of Hainan Island, China, and was long treated as a subspecies of the Grey Peacock-Pheasant before being elevated to full species. Males perform striking courtship displays, fanning the tail to reveal metallic blue‑green eyespots. Camera-trap surveys have confirmed its continued survival in a few protected forests, but numbers remain very low.
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Primarily terrestrial and secretive, moving singly or in pairs. Believed to be largely monogamous, with males displaying on the ground by fanning the tail and circling. Nests are simple scrapes concealed in dense vegetation; clutches are small.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include low, resonant booming hoots and soft, wheezy whistles, often given at dawn. Males may accompany calls with wing-flicks and tail-fanning during display.
Plumage
Finely vermiculated brown-grey plumage with dense speckling and numerous iridescent ocelli on the upperwing coverts and tail; texture appears scaled on the mantle and back.
Diet
Feeds by scratching in the leaf litter for seeds, fallen fruits, tender shoots, and a variety of invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles, and snails. Opportunistically takes berries and small figs when available. Diet varies seasonally with forest fruiting and invertebrate abundance.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the shaded forest floor, especially along trails, stream edges, and bamboo or rattan thickets that provide cover. Avoids open areas and rarely ventures far from dense understory.
