Palawan peacock-pheasant

Palawan peacock-pheasant
Male at Bronx Zoo
Female at Lisbon Zoo
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Polyplectron
Species:
P. napoleonis
Binomial name
Polyplectron napoleonis
Lesson, 1831
Palawan peacock-pheasant range
Synonyms
  • Polyplectrum napoleonis
    Lesson, 1831 (lapsus)
  • Polyplectron emphanum
    Temminck, 1832

The Palawan peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis) is a medium-sized (up to 50cm long) 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 (peras in Southwest 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.