Vietnamese crested argus facts for kids

The Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata) is a large, beautiful bird that looks a bit like a peafowl. It belongs to the pheasant family. Its feathers are black with dark brown spots and light brown (buff) patches. It has a strong pink beak, brown eyes, and blue skin around its eyes. The bird has two feathery crests on its head. The back crest stands up when the bird is scared or when it's trying to attract a mate. Male Vietnamese crested argus birds have a very long, wide tail with twelve feathers. Their tail feathers are the longest and widest of any wild bird. These tail feathers can be up to 1.73 meters (5.68 feet) long. This makes the whole bird about 1.9 to 2.39 meters (6.2 to 7.84 feet) long!

What Does the Vietnamese Crested Argus Look Like?

Female Vietnamese crested argus birds are similar in size to males. Their feathers have a beautiful marbled pattern and are more colorful on their backs. They have noticeable white feathers on their faces, just like the males. The female's crest is different from the male's. It has stiffer feathers that cover more of the back of her head and neck. The female's tail is also long and flat, like the male's, but much shorter. Females are usually about 74 to 75 centimeters (2.43 to 2.46 feet) long. Even though males are much longer, they only weigh about 20% more than females. The average weight for these birds is around 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds).

The wings of the Vietnamese crested argus are quite special for their weight. They are wide and square, which is unusual for pheasants. This shape suggests they can fly for a long time without getting tired. Their wings are similar to those of some birds that live partly in trees. The feet and legs of the crested argus are also interesting. Males have unique leg scales that are very wide, making their legs look a bit like a lizard's front leg. Their toes are long and thin. Like other peafowl, their back toe is not as flat as those of birds that spend all their time on the ground.

Life and Behavior of the Crested Argus

Female at Ho Chi Minh City Zoo.

We don't know much about these birds in the wild because they are very shy and hard to find. The Vietnamese crested argus lives in mountain forests in Vietnam and Laos, in Southeast Asia. They mostly eat small creatures like insects, snails, frogs, and small reptiles. They also eat bamboo shoots, leaves, fruits, and mushrooms.

Males perform special dances to attract females. They move in a wavy, jerky way, vibrating their feathers. They push their lower wing and tail feathers into the ground, leaving marks in the sand and leaves. These dances can end with the male flattening his body and feathers and spreading his long tail. During these displays, the male keeps his head low to the ground. He also raises a feathery hood on his neck and makes a hissing sound while stomping his feet. Like other peafowl, the crested argus also uses these displays to scare away predators, especially snakes.

Habitat and Reproduction

Based on stories from local people, both male and female crested argus birds choose high places to build their nests. They often nest on steep slopes among fallen leaves. They lay only one or two large eggs, which hatch after about 25 days. Like other peafowl, crested argus chicks are born with well-developed wing feathers. The parents feed the chicks by beak for the first few weeks. In zoos, male birds also help raise the chicks. They feed them and keep them warm, both on the ground and in trees.

Like other peafowl, Vietnamese crested argus birds spend many hours each day resting high up in trees, above the forest. They can stay in these trees for days during the rainy season. Vietnamese crested argus are strong fliers, and pairs have been seen flying together.

Protecting the Vietnamese Crested Argus

The Vietnamese crested argus is in great danger. It is listed as "Critically Endangered" on the IUCN Red List. This means it is very close to disappearing forever. This is happening because its forest home is being destroyed. Also, in some areas, too many of these birds are hunted. It is also protected by CITES, which helps control the trade of endangered animals.