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Polyplectron
The peacock-pheasants are a bird genus, ''Polyplectron'', of the family Phasianidae, consisting of eight species. They are colored inconspicuously, relying heavily on crypsis to avoid detection. When threatened, peacock-pheasants will alter their shapes using specialised plumage that when expanded reveals numerous iridescent orbs. The birds also vibrate their plume quills further accentuating their aposematism. Peacock-pheasants exhibit well developed metatarsal spurs. Older individuals may have multiple spurs on each leg. These kicking thorns are used in self-defense. Taxonomy The genus ''Polyplectron'' was introduced in 1807 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. The name combines the Ancient Greek ''polus'' meaning "many" with ''plēktron'' meaning "cock's spur". The type species is the grey peacock-pheasant. The systematics of the genus are somewhat unclear. Molecular research has revealed that peacock-pheasants are not genetically related to pheasants and only dist ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Palawan Peacock-pheasant
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. Description The adult male is the most peacock-like member of the g ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grey Peacock-pheasant
The grey peacock-pheasant (''Polyplectron bicalcaratum''), also known as Burmese peacock-pheasant, is a large Asian member of the order Galliformes. Taxonomy In 1747 the English naturalist George Edwards included an illustration and a description of the grey peacock-pheasant in the second volume of his ''A Natural History of Uncommon Birds''. He used the English name "The Peacock Pheasant from China". Edwards based his hand-coloured etching on a live bird which was given to Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford. When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his ''Systema Naturae'' for the tenth edition, he placed the grey peacock-pheasant with the Indian peafowl in the genus '' Pavo''. Linnaeus included a brief description, coined the binomial name ''Pavo bicalcaratum'' and cited Edwards' work. The grey peacock-pheasant is now placed in the genus ''Polyplectron'' that was introduced in 1807 by the Dutch zoologist Coenraad Jacob Temminck. The genus name ''Polyplectron' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pheasant
Pheasants ( ) are birds of several genera within the family Phasianidae in the order Galliformes. Although they can be found all over the world in introduced (and captive) populations, the pheasant genera's native range is restricted to Eurasia. The classification "pheasant" is paraphyletic, as birds referred to as pheasants are included within both the subfamilies Phasianinae and Pavoninae, and in many cases are more closely related to smaller phasianids, grouse, and turkey (formerly classified in Perdicinae, Tetraoninae, and Meleagridinae) than to other pheasants. Pheasants are characterised by strong sexual dimorphism, males being highly decorated with bright colours and adornments such as wattles. Males are usually larger than females and have longer tails. Males play no part in rearing the young. A pheasant's call or cry can be recognised by the fact it sounds like a rusty sink or valve being turned. Pheasants eat mostly seeds, grains, roots, and berries, while in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phasianidae
Phasianidae is a family (biology), family of heavy, ground-living birds, which includes pheasants, grouse, partridges, junglefowl, chickens, Turkey bird, turkeys, Old World quail, and peafowl. The family includes many of the most popular Game (hunting), gamebirds. The family includes 185 species divided into 54 genera. It was formerly broken up into two subfamily (biology), subfamilies, the Phasianinae and the Perdicinae. However, this treatment is now known to be paraphyly, paraphyletic and polyphyly, polyphyletic, respectively, and more recent evidence supports breaking it up into two subfamilies: Rollulinae and Phasianinae, with the latter containing multiple Tribe (biology), tribes within two clades. The New World quail (Odontophoridae) and guineafowl (Numididae) were formerly sometimes included in this family, but are now typically placed in families of their own; conversely, grouse and turkey (bird), turkeys, formerly often treated as distinct families (Tetraonidae and Melea ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crimson-headed Partridge
The crimson-headed partridge (''Haematortyx sanguiniceps'') is a species of bird in the pheasant, partridge, and francolin family Phasianidae. Described by the British ornithologist Richard Bowdler Sharpe in 1879, it is the only species in the genus ''Haematortyx''. It is endemic to Borneo, where it inhabits lower montane forest in the northern and central parts of the island. It is mainly found at elevations of , but can be seen as low as and as high as . Adult males have a striking appearance, with a dark blackish body and crimson red heads, necks, breasts, and . Females have a similar pattern, but with duller brownish-black colouration, orangish-red heads and breasts, and a brownish-black bill instead of a yellowish one. Juveniles are duller and have the crimson restricted to the top of the head. The species feeds on berries, insects, and small crustaceans. Nests of dry leaves are built in tussocks of grass or lichen, with eggs being laid from mid-January onwards. Clutches ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Galloperdix
''Galloperdix'' is a genus of three species of bird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. These Terrestrial animal, terrestrial birds are restricted to the Indian Subcontinent, with the red spurfowl and painted spurfowl in forest and scrub in India, and the Sri Lanka spurfowl in forests of Sri Lanka. They share the common name "spurfowl" with the members of the genus ''Pternistis'' which are widely distributed in Africa. Taxonomy The genus ''Galloperdix'' was introduced in 1845 by the English zoologist Edward Blyth to accommodate a single species, the red spurfowl, which is therefore the type species. The genus name combines the Latin word ''gallus'' for a "farmyard cock" with ''perdix'' meaning "partridge". The genus ''Galloperdix'' is sister group, sister to the genus ''Polyplectron'' and together they form a clade that is sister to ''Haematortyx''. The genus contains three species: * Red spurfowl ''Galloperdix spadicea'' * Painted spurfowl ''Galloperdix lunulata'' * Sri Lank ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
