ARGUS PHEASANT MATING DANCE

Argus pheasant ..

The male great argus pheasant performs an elaborate courtship display in a specially prepared area that is 72 sq. feet or larger:

He meticulously cleans his dancing site, then attempts to impress females with his foot-stomping dance, concluding with an impressive display in which he creates a fan of feathers with his wings.

He peeks through the funnel of ocelli (eyespots) with one eye to see if the female accepts.

Copulation lasts only a few seconds. Once the birds mate, the female flies deep into the jungle where she lays her clutch, often near a large rainforest tree.

The males do not appear to have any role in the nest or its defense. After almost a month of lone incubation, the female feeds the down-covered chicks for more than 40 days.

She brings insects in her bill and passes them directly to the chicks’ mouths. The nestlings begin to hop with a series of consecutive jumps in preparation for flying.

the mating dance

A clean house...

A clean house…

A male great argus pheasant advertises his cleared dancing arena by calling out to females early in the morning.

Step into my pad...

Step into my pad…

A female accepts the invitation and ventures into the male’s dancing ground.

He circles around her, stomping his feet.