Gray Peacock-Pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum Scientific name definitions

Male 56–76 cm (bicalcaratum, bakeri); tail 35–40 cm (bakeri); 568–910 g (bakeri). Female 48–55 cm (bicalcaratum, bakeri); tail 23–25·5 cm (bakeri); c. 460–500 g (1 Madge, S., and P. McGowan (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ) (bakeri). Male has a full crest that, when spread, droops forward over bill; each of ocelli on mantle and wings is surrounded by a white ring. Female resembles male  , but lacks spurs  (male  has up to four) and is smaller, with shorter crest; plumage generally darker and duller, and ocelli small and blackish, with violet reflections . Bill  and legs dark grey or black, irides whitish or pale grey, and bare skin around eye  pale yellow to dull pinkish (exceptionally reddish in male). First-year male is smaller and duller than adult male, with a relatively shorter crest and ruff, blackish ocelli, a shorter tail, and has only weak spurs (if present). Juvenile similar to adult female , but young male has longer legs and can have larger, metallic violet ocelli after just a few weeks. Races differ in general coloration of male, greyer in W (paler in bakeri and darker in ‘bailyi’), browner in E (<em>ghigii</em> , which is also reported to have complete buff surrounds to ocelli, but intergrades with nominate in Laos).

Editor's Note: This article requires further editing work to merge existing content into the appropriate Subspecies sections. Please bear with us while this update takes place.

Sometimes considered to be closely related to P. germaini, but this is not supported by molecular data; there is some evidence, however, to suggest that present species forms a clade with P. germaini, P. katsumatae, P. inopinatum and P. chalcurum (and presumably) to the exclusion of the remaining members of the genus (2 Kimball, R.T., Braun, E.L., Ligon, J.D., Lucchini, V. and Randi, E. (2001). A molecular phylogeny of the peacock-pheasants (Galliformes: Polyplectron spp.) indicates loss and reduction of ornamental traits and display behaviours. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 73(2): 187–198. Close ). Genetic data indicate that present species is most closely related to P. chalcurum and that these two species evolved most recently within the genus (2 Kimball, R.T., Braun, E.L., Ligon, J.D., Lucchini, V. and Randi, E. (2001). A molecular phylogeny of the peacock-pheasants (Galliformes: Polyplectron spp.) indicates loss and reduction of ornamental traits and display behaviours. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 73(2): 187–198. Close ). The form katsumatae was recently proposed for species status, and is treated thus here; male katsumatae differ from males of other taxa in P. bicalcaratum in their smaller size (effect size on wing 8.57, score 3); brilliant red and more extensive vs dirty grey to pale yellow and less extensive facial skin (3); green vs purplish ocelli, with a somewhat different shape (2); lack of elongate crown feathers (1); darker crown (1); more densely and neatly vermiculated body plumage (ns[1]); browner vs greyer overall coloration (ns[1]). Internal taxonomy probably requires revision; races intergrade, with intermediate forms fairly common, and individual variation is not uncommon throughout the range; bakeri and ghigii perhaps better synonymized with nominate (3 Penhallurick, J. and Walters, M.P. (2005). Some taxonomic comments on the genus Polyplectron (Phasianidae). Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 125(3): 228–229. Close ). Poorly known form bailyi sometimes recognized, but its geographical range is not known (W Assam or E Himalayas suggested) and location of specimens is uncertain (4 Madge, S.C. and McGowan, P. (2002). Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London. Close ). Three subspecies recognized.

Editor's Note: Additional distribution information for this taxon can be found in the 'Subspecies' article above. In the future we will develop a range-wide distribution article.

Inhabits dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forest , including areas with much bamboo in understorey, up to 1400 m over most of range, but up to 1700 m in Bhutan, 1800 m in Thailand and 2000 m in Yunnan. Recorded in degraded and burnt secondary forest, and relict forest patches, at least in Laos.

No information available.

Diet apparently consists of berries, fruits (plums and Zizyphus identified), seeds, wild figs (Ficus), grubs, ants, other insects, snails and other small animals; particularly favours termites (Isoptera); bamboo seeds eaten when available, as are rice and grain from village cultivation. Foraging slow and secretive, birds scratching for food in quiet manner . Usually found alone , in pairs, or in small family parties.

Male of nominate bicalcaratum gives a shrill whistle  , repeated up to five times at irregular intervals, “trew-tree, taa-pwi” or “phee-hoi” (the second note longer and rising), and a harsh chuckling, raucous  “qua qua qua” or “wak wak wak”, which is perhaps given in alarm.

In NE India, Mar–Jun, mainly Apr–May; in Bangladesh, Apr–May. Mating system unclear; suspected to be monogamous, but instances of polygamy reported in captivity . Nest located in a hollow, usually at base of bamboo clump or in thick bushes; tangles of secondary vegetation apparently favoured. Clutch consists of 2–5 pale cream to rich chocolate-buff, white-stippled eggs, but few reliable data; incubation 21 days (in captivity); chicks have dark brown down above, tawny-buff below.

Not globally threatened (Least Concern). Very little firm information available from NE India and Bhutan, but recorded from at least three areas in the latter country (5 Bishop, K.D. (1999). Preliminary notes on some birds in Bhutan. Forktail. 15: 87–91. Close ), while the species probably is present in several protected forests in NE India (e.g. Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary and Doimara and Papum Reserve Forests in Arunachal Pradesh) (6 Datta, A. (2000). Pheasant abundance in selectively logged and unlogged forests of western Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 97(2): 177–183. Close ) and is reported to be ‘not uncommon’ in parts of Nagaland (7 Choudhury, A. (2001). Some bird records from Nagaland, north-east India. Forktail 17:91–103. Close ). Rare breeding resident in Bangladesh, where still hunted and perhaps now confined to the Chittagong Hills in SE of the country, including Kaptai National Park (8 Thompson, P. M., S. U. Chowdhury, E. Ul Haque, M. M. H. Khan, and R. Halder (2014). Notable bird records from Bangladesh from July 2002 to July 2013. Forktail 30:50–65. Close ), with very few recent observations by ornithologists (9 Thompson, P. M., and D. L. Johnson (2003). Further notable bird records from Bangladesh. Forktail 19:85–102. Close , 8 Thompson, P. M., S. U. Chowdhury, E. Ul Haque, M. M. H. Khan, and R. Halder (2014). Notable bird records from Bangladesh from July 2002 to July 2013. Forktail 30:50–65. Close ). In China believed to be very rare and declining overall; range possibly expanding in Yunnan. No recent information from Myanmar, but formerly considered very common in N and in Tenasserim, and common everywhere else in suitable habitat, except for Pegu Yomas. Despite obviously heavy poaching in parts of Laos, the species’ populations appear reasonably healthy and widespread in the country, including within several protected areas (10 Thewlis, R. M., R. J. Timmins, T. D. Evans, and J. W. Duckworth (1998). The conservation status of birds in Laos: a review of key species. Bird Conservation International 8(Supplement):1–159. Close ). Recently reported from several sites in Vietnam, including Bach Ma National Park. In Thailand , widely distributed and fairly common in best protected and largest areas; population estimate in thousands; may be stable or slightly declining. Main pressures are those to habitat, with abundance generally also higher in primary versus logged forest (6 Datta, A. (2000). Pheasant abundance in selectively logged and unlogged forests of western Arunachal Pradesh, northeast India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 97(2): 177–183. Close ), although overhunting is also a problem.