The grey peacock-pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum
The grey peacock-pheasant, also known as the chinquis, is the national bird of Myanmar. It has overall greyish brown plumage that is finely mottled with dark grey, white and buff on the back. Males have metallic bluish-green ocelli on the wings and mantle, with a tint of purple and violet. Each of the ocelli is surrounded by three rings: black, fulvous, and whitish. The head is adorned with a long erect crest; the tail reaches 40 cm in length and bears large iridescent eyespots. The female is much smaller and duller than the male.
The grey peacock-pheasant is distributed in the large range in Asia, from Bhutan to Myanmar in the west to Thailand in the east and Kolkata in the south. It inhabits dense evergreen and semi-evergreen forests with dense understory of bushes, perennial weeds, and bamboo. These birds are very shy and wary. The diet of the grey peacock-pheasant includes berries, seeds, wild figs and plums, as well as insects. During display, the male’s tail feathers are raised and ruffled, while the spread wings reveal striking iridescent ocelli. The primaries are spread into the fan-shape, with two long rectrices being seen in the centre. The clutch consists of two eggs that are incubated solely by the female. The male stays close to the female, protecting her against predators.
