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Great Argus Pheasant
Argusianus argus
This bird is named after Argus, a giant with 100 eyes in Greek mythology – a reference to its eye-like feather pattern. They can be found in Sumatra, Borneo and the Malay Peninsula and their habitat consists of dry and rocky country, and forests from sea level to 4000 feet. Their diet is fallen fruit and seeds, ants, grubs and slugs. Their clutch size is 3-4 eggs with incubation being 25 days. Their primary threat to survival is habitat destruction.
The Argus is a tremendously calm and gentle bird with great personalities. They are large and need heat in the winter. The males have massive primary, secondary and tail feathers with a blue face, black crown, brown upperparts and an iridescent ocelli can be found on the wings and tail. The wings can continue to grow until the bird reaches its 6th year. Females are similar but smaller than males and lack the ornate tail and wings. The long feathers of the wings and tails are used by Bornean cultures for ornamental head dresses.
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