The Vietnamese crested argus is a large and spectacular peafowl-like species of bird in the pheasant family with dark-brown-spotted black and buff plumage, a heavy pink bill, brown irises and blue skin around the eyes. The head has two crests; the hind crest, which extends down the occiput, is erected when alarmed and during intentional behaviors including pair bonding and courtship displays. The male has a broad and greatly elongated tail of twelve feathers. The tail covert of the male is the longest of any bird and is believed to contain the longest feathers to occur in a wild bird; the Reeves's pheasant has tail feathers of similar length but which are considerably narrower. The tail coverts measure up to 1.73 m (5.7 ft) in length, giving the bird a total length of 1.9–2.39 m (6.2–7.8 ft).
Region
Annamite Range of Indochina
Typical Environment
Occurs in evergreen and semi-evergreen broadleaf forests of the Annamite (Truong Son) Mountains, primarily in central Vietnam with occurrences into adjacent Laos. It favors mature, dense understory habitats with abundant leaf litter for foraging and nearby watercourses. Birds are highly secretive and keep to remote, undisturbed tracts of forest. Fragmentation and degradation of these forests restrict the species to increasingly isolated pockets.
Altitude Range
200–1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
This spectacular pheasant has two head crests and the male sports extraordinarily elongated tail coverts, among the longest feathers of any wild bird. Males display by raising and fanning these ocellated feathers during courtship, creating a dramatic visual show. It is shy and elusive, spending most of its time on the forest floor. Habitat loss and hunting pressure have made it rare and difficult to observe.
Female at Ho Chi Minh City Zoo.
Temperament
shy and elusive
Flight Pattern
reluctant flier with short rapid wingbeats; mostly terrestrial
Social Behavior
Typically encountered as solitary birds or in pairs, especially during the breeding season. Males perform elaborate courtship displays, raising the long tail coverts to showcase the ocelli to females. Nests are shallow scrapes on the ground, concealed in dense vegetation, with small clutches. Adults are highly secretive and rely on camouflage and stillness to avoid detection.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are powerful, far-carrying hoots and whistles delivered from concealed perches or the forest floor, often at dawn and dusk. During displays, males add rustling and wing-snap sounds as they manipulate their long feathers.
