The Germain’s Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron germaini, is endemic to southern Indochina, where it is found in the semi-evergreen dry forests of southern Vietnam and eastern Cambodia.
The name commemorates the French colonial army’s veterinary surgeon Louis Rodolphe Germain.
Description:
This is a medium-sized, up to 24 inches (60cm long), brownish dark pheasant with finely spotted buff, short crest, bare red facial skin, brown iris and purplish blue ocelli on upperbody plumage and half of its tail of twenty feathers.
Both sexes are similar, except that the female has eighteen tail feathers and is smaller than the male.
Breeding:
This pheasant is fairly well established in aviculture. The breeding season varies depending on region and climate. Birds in Florida and southern states may begin laying as early as February and May in the northern states.
This species is ready to breed when they are about 2 years old, but have been known to successfully breed earlier.
The female lays two creamy white eggs, which she incubates for about 22 to 23 days.
Status in the Wild:
Due to limited range and ongoing habitat lost, the Germain’s Peacock Pheasant is evaluated as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix II of CITES.
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