The blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum), also sometimes hyphenated as blue eared-pheasant, is a large pheasant endemic to China. Although it is considered rare,[2] the blue eared pheasant is evaluated as of least concern.
| Blue eared pheasant | |
|---|---|
,_Songpan_County,_Sichuan_1.jpg) | |
| In Songpan County, Sichuan, China | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Crossoptilon |
| Species: | C. auritum |
| Binomial name | |
| Crossoptilon auritum (Pallas, 1811) | |
Description
editThe blue eared pheasant is around 96 cm (38 in) long (including the 49–56 cm (19–22 in) tail); males weigh 1700–2110 g, and females 1450–1880 g.[3] It has dark blue-grey plumage with velvet black crown, red facial wattles of bare skin surrounding the eyes, yellow iris, long white ear coverts below and behind the eyes, a pale pink bill, and crimson legs. Its tail of 24 elongated bluish-grey feathers is curved, loose, and dark-tipped, with the outer five pairs of tail feathers having a white base. Both sexes have similar plumage, though the male is slightly larger, and has short spurs on the legs.[3][4]
Distribution
editThe blue eared pheasant is found in the mountain forests of central China, preferring juniper scrub in alpine meadows at 2700–4400 m altitude.[3][5] Its range is to the northeast of the closely related white eared pheasant C. crossoptilon, and southwest of the brown eared pheasant C. mantchuricum.[5]
Ecology
edit
Its diet consists mainly (about 80%) of berries and vegetable matter; the remaining 20% being insects, particularly beetles.[3]
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ BirdLife International (2016). "Crossoptilon auritum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T22679307A92810024. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22679307A92810024.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ↑ Yi-Qun, Wu; Xiu, Xu; et al. (2013). "Seasonal Changes in Habitat Use of Blue-Eared Pheasant, Crossoptilon auritum" (PDF). Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 45 (6): 1699–1704.
- 1 2 3 4 Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 2 New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Barcelona: Lynx edicions. 1994. p. 539. ISBN 84-87334-15-6.
- ↑ "Blue Eared-Pheasant". eBird. 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
- 1 2 Hoyo, Josep del (2020). All the birds of the world. Barcelona: Lynx edicions. p. 64. ISBN 978-84-16728-37-4.