Crested Argus
The Crested Argus genus (Rheinardia) are large and spectacular pheasant-like peafowl with dark-brown-spotted black and buff plumage, a heavy pink bill, brown irises and blue skin around the eyes. The head has two crests. The hind crest, which extends down the occiput is erected when alarmed and during intention behaviors including pair bonding and courtship displays. The male has a broad and greatly elongated tail of twelve feathers. He measures from 1.9–2.39 m (6.2–7.8 ft) in total length. The tail covert (or "train") of the male is the longest of any bird and is believed to contain the longest (and widest) feathers to occur in a wild bird; the Reeve's Pheasant has tail feathers of similar length but are considerably more narrow. The tail covert measure up to 1.73 m (5.7 ft) in length.
The female is similar in size, with a prominent marbled barring and more colourful dorsal plumage than the male. Her conspicuous white facial plumage is like the male, marked with disruptive patterning. The female's crest is different morphologically, with more rigid plumes that take up more surface area along the occiput and upper hind neck. The female's tail is elongated and laterally compressed as is that of the male but of considerably shorter length. The average length of the female is 74–75 cm (2.43–2.46 ft). There are two species in genus Rheinardia. The Malaysian R. nigrescens, inhabits the Malaysian Isthmus and the Annamese inhabits the Annametic Mountain Range. Despite being sexually dimorphic galliform by length, the male only weighs about 20% more than the female. The average weight is around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
The female is similar in size, with a prominent marbled barring and more colourful dorsal plumage than the male. Her conspicuous white facial plumage is like the male, marked with disruptive patterning. The female's crest is different morphologically, with more rigid plumes that take up more surface area along the occiput and upper hind neck. The female's tail is elongated and laterally compressed as is that of the male but of considerably shorter length. The average length of the female is 74–75 cm (2.43–2.46 ft). There are two species in genus Rheinardia. The Malaysian R. nigrescens, inhabits the Malaysian Isthmus and the Annamese inhabits the Annametic Mountain Range. Despite being sexually dimorphic galliform by length, the male only weighs about 20% more than the female. The average weight is around 1.5 kg (3.3 lb).
