White eared pheasant

   ›      ›   White eared pheasant - Crossoptilon crossoptilon.

The white eared pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) belongs to the family Phasianidae. The white eared pheasants are distributed in India and China. There four subspecies of these birds. The subspecies C. c. dolani Meyer occurs in China. The subspecies C. c. drouynii occurs in Tibet in China. The subspecies C. c. crossoptilon occurs in India and china. The subspecies C. c. lichiangense is also found in China.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had categorized and evaluated these pheasant species and had listed them as 'Vulnerable'.

These birds are fairly large, male measuring 75 to 100 cm in length and weighing 2350 to 2750 grams. The tail of the males is nearly 50 cm long. The females are smaller than males and weigh between 1400 to 2000 grams. These birds are prominently whitish and white eared. The bare face skin is red. The tip of the tail and wing feathers are tipped black.

They inhabit subalpine coniferous forests are seen in the elevations between 3500 to 4500 meters. They feed on tubers, bulbs, berries and wild onions. They breed during April to June and the clutch has four to six eggs. They are monogamous.

Indian bird - White eared pheasant - Crossoptilon crossoptilon
Indian bird - White eared pheasant - Crossoptilon crossoptilon


Biological classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Galliformes
Family:Phasianidae
Subfamily:Phasianinae
Genus:Crossoptilon
Species:C. crossoptilon
Binomial name:Crossoptilon crossoptilon
Distribution:alpine meadows of Himalayas;
Feeding habits:tubers, roots, pine needles, juniper berries, wolfberries, seed pods of iris, lily and allium;
IUCN status listing:Vulnerable

Popular posts in Birds of India
Indian GrebesIndian Flamingos
Indian PheasantsSatyr tragopan
Blood pheasantPainted spurfowl
Red spurfowlMountain bamboo-partridge
Hill partridgeSee-see partridge
Chukar partridgeTibetan snowcock
Himalayan snowcockBlack francolin
Grey francolinWilson's storm petrel
National bird of IndiaBlack-necked grebe
Horned grebeGreat crested grebe

Image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WhiteEaredPheasant.jpg
Author: Snowyowls | License: CC BY-SA 1.0
Current topic in Birds of India: White eared pheasant - Crossoptilon crossoptilon.
Contact State Tourism or travel agents for bird watching and wildlife tours.