Crossoptilon mantchuricum
brown eared-pheasant
(Also: brown eared pheasant)

Brown eared-pheasants are indigenous to western China, Mongolia, and Tibet (Delacour, 1958; Harper, 1986). (Delacour, 1958; Harper, 1986)

These pheasants are found on the slopes of mountains and occur throughout the high plateaus of their geographic range (Delacour, 1958) at 1100 to 2600 m (Madge and McGowan, 2002). They are terrestrial, temperate birds and are found in mixed coniferous and deciduous forests with an understory of shrubs (Madge and McGowan, 2002). (Delacour, 1958; Madge and McGowan, 2002)

Brown eared-pheasants may reach 100 cm in length (Harper, 1986). Male wing length ranges from 270 to 312 mm, and female wing length ranges from 265 to 290 mm. Tail length for males and females measures 518 to 582 mm and 447 to 576 mm, respectively. Tarsal length for males and females is around 100 mm. Males weigh 1650 to 2475 g, while females weigh 1450 to 2025 g (Madge and McGowan, 2002).

Overall, females are usually smaller and lack leg spurs. Males are mostly dark brown on the head, neck, and upper chest. They have long cream-colored or whitish tail beathers (Harper, 1986) that terminate in a brownish-black, glossy purplish-blue (Johnsgard, 1986). The tail has two central feathers that have soft, drooping veins much like Ostrich feathers (Madge and McGowan, 2002). Males have a characteristic large red eye patch with buff to brown-colored tufts beneath the eyes extending toward the back of the head in a most distinguished fashion (Harper, 1986). In fact, these tufts are reminiscent of a handle-bar moustache (Madge and McGowan, 2002). Wing coverts are glossy purplish, and the lower back, rump and upper tail is silvery white. The underparts are brown in color. The beak is a light reddish color, and the legs are crimson. The male develops wattles and leg spurs (Johnsgard, 1986). (Harper, 1986; Johnsgard, 1986; Madge and McGowan, 2002)

We do not have information on lifespan/longevity for this species at this time.

Often, brown eared-pheasants are found in groups of 10 to 30 birds. Sometimes, birds form permanent pair-bonds within the group (Madge and McGowan, 2002), especially during the winter (Johnsgard, 1986). These pheasants are not aggressive, even during the breeding season (Harper, 1986).

Male pheasants may perch on a boulder or the lower branch of an oak tree or stand on the ground to utter their challenging call to establish a breeding territory (Johnsgard, 1986). As part of their daily routine, these birds will leave wooded roosting sites and head to grassy meadows, then return to the roosting sites by evening (Johnsgard, 1986). (Harper, 1986; Johnsgard, 1986; Madge and McGowan, 2002)

Home Range

We do not have information on home range for this species at this time.

During the breeding season, male brown eared-pheasants will utter a "trip crrrr ah" call that starts out softly, but increases in volume. The call may last for as long as one minute (Madge and McGowan, 2002). The male will utter the call very intensively in the spring, although both male and female will call throughout the rest of year. (Madge and McGowan, 2002)

These birds forage on the ground looking for insects, seeds, and vegetation; they also dig for roots (Harper, 1986). Brown eared-pheasants will also dig in and around clumps of grass to find bulbs, tubers, and other underground vegetative materials to eat (Madge and McGowan, 2002). (Harper, 1986; Madge and McGowan, 2002)

When threatened by raptors (order Falconiformes), brown eared-pheasants will freeze in place. When threatened by mammals (class Mammalia), they will run uphill or to nearby cover (Johnsgard, 1986). (Johnsgard, 1986)

Brown eared-pheasants have an impact on the vegetation they eat.

There are no known adverse affects of brown eared-pheasants on humans.

Captive-breeding of this and related Crossoptilon species have added to aviaries around the world (Harper, 1986). (Harper, 1986)

These pheasants are at a high risk of extinction in the wild in the medium-term future. The result of habitat loss and hunting has been a rapid decline in populations in unprotected areas. In protected areas, populations of brown eared-pheasants have remained stable. These pheasants occur in small areas as fragmented populations and are found in no more than ten locations.

These pheasants were wide-spread until the 1930's. Loss of forest habitat and hunting contributed to their decline. In protected areas, brown eared-pheasant are still under pressure because of human activities. Mushroom collectors and egg collection has contributed to nesting failures as high as 78% is some areas (Madge and McGowan, 2002).

The Pheasant Trust has been involved in breeding brown eared-pheasants and white eared-pheasants (Wayre, 1979). This organization's mission is to breed endangered pheasant species in captivity, and when possible, reintroduce young birds into the wild in their native land, provided that suitable habitat still exists (Wayre, 1979).

Brown eared-pheasants are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, and as Appendix I by CITES. (BirdLife International 2000, 2003; Madge and McGowan, 2002; Wayre, 1979)

Brown eared-pheasants were the first Crossoptilon species to be bred in captivity. The first pheasants were bred in 1864 in Paris (Harper, 1986). These pheasants were imported to London from the French stock in 1866 (Delacour, 1958).

Brown eared-pheasants are closely related to Crossoptilon crossoptilon (white eared-pheasant) and Crossoptilon auritum (blue eared-pheasant). White eared-pheasants were imported to the United States in 1935, and a small stock has been developed and maintained (Delacour, 1958; Harper, 1986). White eared-pheasants lack the tufts extending toward the back of the head (Harper, 1986). Blue eared-pheasants are the most common in captivity (Delacour, 1958; Harper, 1986) and are considered the most beautiful by some aviculturalists (Delacour, 1958). (Delacour, 1958; Harper, 1986)