Palawan Peacock Pheasant

[mantarey]

A visit to Puerto Princesa is not complete without a visit to St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park to see the endemic pheasant. Although it's easy to find a lot of times, it's not guaranteed to be seen. The next batch after us didn't and a friend that went after two days didn't see it also. So we were fortunate to be able to photograph this beautiful bird. Needless to say, these are full frame captures too because you can approach it very close.

Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis), St. Paul National Park, 10/05/2010
50D + EF500, f5.6, 1/50, ISO 800, Manual Exposure, Handheld



50D + EF500, f5.6, 1/50, ISO 800, Manual Exposure, Handheld

[Bob Kaufman]

Congrats, Bro on getting a photo (a full-frame at that) of this uncommon bird. You are lucky indeed!

Super excellent shots, you can even see the spurs on its legs.

[mantarey]

Thanks a lot bro, so exciting to see this bird in the wild.

[William Lim]

Beautiful bird appropriately captured beautifully, Rey.

[Enrique Frio]

Beautiful shots of a beautiful bird! How many of these birds are still in the wild?

[Tonji Ramos]

Its hard to freeze the bobbing head of that bird. It looks like you had good light.

Its always cool to see a Palawan Peacock.

[mantarey]

Thanks a lot folks.

@enrique
I have no idea of the bird's current population but status right now is Vulnerable.

Tonji Ramos
Didn't really have enough light to get a shutter speed to freeze action (1/50sec). These were just a few times the bird suddenly paused long enough to get a sharp image.

[alainpascua]

The first picture is a killer, Rey! How much more when it spreads its tail feathers tall and wide! You're really blessed at that time to have enjoyed the evenness of light! When I was there, The bird showed in areas where sun rays and tree shadows were trying to get diffeent spaces on the bird's body.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

beautiful shots of a beautiful bird sir!

[Mark Itol]

Lovely set of this endemic, Rey. Big congrats on getting these full framers.

[Toto Gamboa]

Woooooooow. two spurs per leg. This is a highly weaponized avian species.

[mantarey]

Thanks a lot Alain, Edu, Mark and Toto.

@toto
I even heard that some really old birds have grown four spurs.

[gabriel buluran]

i love the colors rey! the blues are very radiant. are peacock fights common in the wild? whay the need for so many spurs...

[JV Noriega]

You are another magnetic -bird -attracting personality Rey! A couple of years ago, I literally lived in Central Park in Sabang for a month filming a project, and i waited for this bird each day but it never showed-up. Very nice close captures!

[mantarey]

Thanks a lot Gabs and JV.

[donsausa]

Oct 12, 2010 0:53:39 GMT @mantarey said:

A visit to Puerto Princesa is not complete without a visit to St. Paul's Subterranean River National Park to see the endemic pheasant. Although it's easy to find a lot of times, it's not guaranteed to be seen. The next batch after us didn't and a friend that went after two days didn't see it also. So we were fortunate to be able to photograph this beautiful bird. Needless to say, these are full frame captures too because you can approach it very close.

Did those guys go near the ranger station? I have never been there but I was told they come out early morning near the station and the folks there give them food.

[mantarey]

Yes, that's where it comes out (there's only one bird) but it's not a sure thing although there's a good chance it will.

[donsausa]

Oct 16, 2010 6:51:02 GMT @mantarey said:

Yes, that's where it comes out (there's only one bird) but it's not a sure thing although there's a good chance it will.

I will try to get him next month when I'm down there. Thanks for confirming.