Adult Male:
The adult male has a long crest. The chin, throat, and entire underparts are black. A distinctive feature is a broad white stripe running along both sides of the neck. The long feathers on the breast and flanks are white mixed with black. The back has fine black and white markings, with approximately 6 to 7 narrow white bands on each feather. The wings are black with some white markings. The tail is black with numerous narrow white bands. The eyes are orange-brown or yellow. The beak is black or horn-gray. The skin around the eye is bright red. Legs are purplish-red.
One-Year-Old Juvenile:
The back is brown with fine black markings. The crest is dark brown with blackish-brown spots. The underparts are brown mixed with blackish-brown, with brown and white streaks on the breast. The tail has blackish-brown and black and white markings, with fine brownish-white bands on the central tail feathers.
Female:
Overall, the plumage is dark brown. The tail is light chestnut brown, and the chin and throat are light gray. The crest is long and dark brown. The wing coverts, shoulders, and entire back have pale gray lance-shaped markings, these markings on the upper back having a dull dark edge. Eyes are brown. The beak is ivory. Legs are purplish-red.
Measurements:
- Wing (male): 225 – 250 mm; (female): 202 – 245 mm
- Tail (male): 310 – 355 mm; (female): 215 – 255 mm
- Tarsus: 75 – 80 mm
- Beak: 23 – 30 mm
Distribution:
This pheasant species is distributed in the forests of the South Central region, the Lam Vien Plateau north of Pleiku, and the northeastern part of the South-Eastern region. It is a special bird of Vietnam.