Scientific Name:
Polypectron malacensis

Classification:
Order : Galliformes
Family : Phasianidae

Description:
Male - heavily feathered; gingery brown with dark crest that points directly forwards over bill, overall dark buffy-brown; orange face; round-ended (not tapered) tail, with blue-green ocelli on the back and tail; crest glossy blue-green. Female - like male but duller with much shorter tail; no obvious crest, dull orange face; obscure blackish eye-spots. Length: 40-53 cm, of which 25 cm is tail length of male.

Behavior:
This pheasant is a denizen of deep forest moving on the forest floor singly or in pairs but never in small groups. Shy it is seldom seen in its natural habitat. Though silent and hard to find, at odd periods (including heavy fruiting months) becomes very noisy and obvious. Both sexes utter harsh cackling notes, most frequently during breeding especially from about February to late July. Call of male an angry chicken-like clucking, an explosive single shout, and mellow penetrating two-note rising whistle hoo hui. At Taman Negara, it may be encountered along one of the many forest trails.

Distribution:
Sunda endemic. In Peninsular Malaysia.

Habitat:
Lowland rainforest over level ground, occasionally in foothills up to 200m.