The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron katsumatae) is a species within the family Phasianidae (Galliformes, Aves). This recently split species was originally classified into the gray peacock-pheasant community, but due to independent evolution over a long period, the subspecies has been elevated to full species status and given its present name.

Protection class

It is an endemic species of Hainan, and a Class I national protected animal. It is also listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Morphological characteristics

Males

A male Hainan Peacock-Pheasant is 50-67 cm long and weighs 456-710 grams. The upper part of a male body is mostly blackish brown with untidy, extended feathers and some off-white markings, including the hind neck (covered with ruff), the back and underneath. The surface of its wings shares the same color with the back, both presenting metallic greenish blue stripes and purple eye-like spots that are surrounded by narrow black-brown circles and wider white circles. Its primaries are also blackish brown, but with some small hazel dots on the surface. The tail feathers are in the same color as the back, but the white spots are larger, and pairs of eye-like spots are found at about 20-30 mm from the tail end. The chin and larynx of the bird is white; the breast, flanks and the back neck are slightly identical; the lower body parts remain similar to the back; and the eye-like spots on the tail feathers are black and oval. In addition, this species features pearl gray iris, flesh-colored face, black mouth, blackish brown claws and toes, as well as two short-range tarsometatarsi.

Females

A female Hainan Peacock-Pheasant is 33-52 cm long and weighs 460-500 grams. Compared to male birds, the feather color of females is similar, yet darker and purer; the eye-like spots are less brighter, and broken spots replace the black and white circles around the spots; the eye-like spots on shorter tail feathers are not observed; the white part of the throat is larger; and the crista is a bit stronger. Its iris is brown, taupe or gray. The naked face is flesh-colored whereas the color of the feet and toes are lighter.

Habitat

The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant population inhabits evergreen broad-leaved forests and bamboo groves that are 150-1500 meters above sea level. This bird only occupies a small yet stable home range for multiple reasons. For males, the home range varies in different months of reproduction. By contrast, females move around in a larger space before breeding, stay in a limited area through breeding time, and then become as active as what they present during generation time. There are no clear signs of community behavior for Hainan Peacock-Pheasant. The home ranges of females and males in the same community overlap a lot, and they often appear in the same places, which can be divided into roosting, foraging and transition zones according to the behaviors and the time these birds spend. All these places are found in mountainous rainforests.

Habits

The Hainan Peacock-Pheasant appear either alone or in pairs. They seldom fly to the canopy. They often perch on branches at night and forage on the ground. As an animal-based species, they feed on insects and worms.

Distribution

Restricted to Hainan Island, the Hainan Peacock-Pheasant is a rare species only discovered in the central mountainous regions of the island. In particular, it has a small area of occupancy in well-protected primitive forest areas such as BaWang Ling, JianFeng Ling, YingGe Ling, DiaoLuo Shan and LiMu Shan reserves in Hainan.