Blue eared pheasant

The blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) is a large pheasant endemic to China. Although it is considered rare,^[2] the blue eared pheasant is evaluated as of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.^[1]

Blue eared pheasant
At Central Park Zoo, New York
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Genus:	Crossoptilon
Species:	C. auritum
Binomial name
Crossoptilon auritum (Pallas, 1811)

Description

The blue eared pheasant has dark blue-gray plumage with velvet black crown, red facial feathers appearing as bare skin, yellow iris, long white ear coverts behind the eyes, and crimson legs. Its tail of 24 elongated bluish-gray feathers is curved, loose, and dark-tipped. Both sexes are similar with the male being slightly larger. They grow up to 96 cm (38 in) long.

Distribution

The blue eared pheasant is found throughout mountain forests of central China.

Ecology

Colour plate from 1918 of the blue eared pheasant

Its diet consists mainly of berries and vegetable matter.

See also

• List of endangered and protected species of China