The Palawan peacock-pheasant is a medium-sized bird in the family Phasianidae endemic to the island of Palawan in the Philippines. The spectacular male has a black body with blue marks on the wings, a grayish, finely speckled back and tail with blue peacock "eyes," white marks on the face, and a red eye-ring. Females are mostly brown but with a white face. It is known as tandikan in the some local Palawano, Tagbanwa, and Batak languages of Palawan. It is featured prominently in the culture of the indigenous people of Palawan. The bird is also depicted in the official seal of the city of Puerto Princesa and is in the Philippine one hundred-peso note This species is threatened by habitat loss, the illegal wildlife trade and hunting and is listed as a Vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Region
Southeast Asia (Palawan, Philippines)
Typical Environment
Occurs in lowland primary and well-structured secondary forests on Palawan, including limestone and karst forests with dense understory. It favors shaded, humid interiors with thick leaf litter for foraging and nearby cover for quick escape. Birds are largely terrestrial, roosting low and moving short distances between feeding and cover. It tolerates some disturbance but declines where forest is heavily fragmented.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
This striking pheasant is found only on Palawan Island in the Philippines. Males perform elaborate ground displays, fanning the tail and wings to show iridescent blue-green eye-spots to a single mate. It holds deep cultural significance in Palawan and appears on local emblems and currency. The species is threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and the illegal bird trade.
A male depicted on the Philippine one hundred-peso note
The seal of Puerto Princesa depicting a male Palawan peacock-pheasant
Temperament
shy and secretive
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Largely solitary or in pairs, with males performing elaborate courtship displays on open patches of forest floor. Generally monogamous, nesting on or near the ground in concealed sites. Clutches are small, and both parents remain close to cover to avoid predators.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft whistles and sharp, rasping calls given from the ground or low perches. Males also produce mechanical wing-flicking and rustling sounds during display that carry through the understory.
Plumage
Male is blackish with strong blue-green iridescence and numerous rounded, peacock-like ocelli on the tail and upperparts; fine grey speckling on mantle and tail. Female is smaller, warm brown and finely mottled, providing excellent camouflage. Both sexes show contrasting pale facial markings, with the male having a prominent facial mask and erectile crest.
Diet
Forages by scratching through leaf litter for seeds, fallen fruits, and tender shoots. Also consumes a variety of invertebrates such as ants, termites, beetles, worms, and small snails, making it an opportunistic omnivore. Diet composition shifts seasonally with fruiting and insect abundance.
Preferred Environment
Feeds on the shaded forest floor, especially along trails, stream edges, and beneath dense understory where cover is close at hand. Often selects microhabitats with deep leaf litter and scattered shrubs for quick concealment.
