Brown Eared-Pheasant

(Crossoptilon mantchuricum)

• Avicultural Data
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• Bibliography
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Other Names: Manchurian Eared-Pheasant

Range: Northeastern China

Subspecies: Monotypic

Habitat: Mountainous, mixed coniferous and decidous forests.

Description: Large brown pheasant, the top of the head is covered with velvety black feathers, the "ears" are white and start beneath the chin and extend back over the ears. The facial skin is scarlet red. The neck is black with a purplish sheen that shades into brown on to the lower back and wings. The base of the tail is silvery gray, the plumes of the tail are dark brown. Immature birds are mottled brown and will attain adult plumage by five months. Sexes are similar, but can be distinguished by looking at the spur. The spurs on the males are larger and round. The female's are much smaller and are oblong in shape. The spurs will begin to be noticeable at about four months of age.

Status in Wild: Endangered. The rarest of the genus, the wild population suffers from overhunting and loss of habitat.

Avicultural Data

Status in Aviculture: Brown Eared are fairly common in aviculture and recent importations should help the American captive gene pool.

Breeding Season: April to June.

Breeding Age: Second year.

Clutch Size: 5 to 8 eggs.

Incubation Period: 26-27 days.

Misc. Aviculture Notes: They are great diggers, plants in the aviary usually won't last! A large, well-drained and shady aviary is best for this species. Brown Eared love greens and they should be offered as often as possible. Brown Eared hens have good maternal instincts and if clutches are left, will often brood and rear the chicks. Although first year hens may lay eggs, they are often not fertile until their second year.

Click on thumbnails for larger views.

Photo Credits
(l to r): 1, Bill Asby; 2-5, Dan Cowell.

• Delacour, J. 1977. The Pheasants of the World. 2nd ed., World Pheasant Association and Spur Publications, Hindhead, U.K.
• Delacour, J. 1978. Pheasants: Their Care and Breeding. T.F.H. Publishing, Neptune, NJ.
• De Schauensee, R.M. 1984. The Birds of China. Smithsonian Press, Washington D.C.
• Howman, K. 1991. Pheasants of the World: Their Breeding and Management. Hancock House Publishers, Surrey, B.C. Canada.
• Johnsgard, P.A. 1999. The Pheasants of the World: Biology and Natural History. 2nd ed., Smithsonian Press, Washington D.C.
• Madge, S., McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

Links related to this species. Please note, links will open in a new window.

• Brown eared-pheasant - ARKive species factsheet.
• Brown eared-pheasant - BirdLife species factsheet.
• Crossoptilon mantchuricum Images - Images of this species located at the Phasianidae group on flickr.
• Sexing Eared-Pheasants - Photos of the spurs of Eared Pheasants from Roman's Acres.
• Species info - Crossoptilon mantchuricum - From the BirdLife International's Red Data Book on Threatened Birds of Asia.
• Wikipedia - Brown Eared-Pheasant - Wikipedia's species page.