Tibetan Eared Pheasant
Crossoptilon harmani
The Tibetan Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani) is a legendary partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 2 countries, weighing about 2.1 kg. The Tibetan eared pheasant, also called Elwes' eared pheasant, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae found in southeast Tibet and adjacent northern India, usually between 3,000 and 5,000 m elevation, but has been seen down to 2,280 m (7,500 ft) in winter.
About the Tibetan Eared Pheasant
The Tibetan eared pheasant, also called Elwes' eared pheasant, is a species of bird in the family Phasianidae found in southeast Tibet and adjacent northern India, usually between 3,000 and 5,000 m elevation, but has been seen down to 2,280 m (7,500 ft) in winter. The species is named after Henry John Harman.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Tibetan eared pheasant shares many characteristics, such as the short ears and the droopy tail, with the white eared pheasant (C. crossoptilon), as well as having similar calls and hybridising with it in the Salween Valley, so the two may be conspecific. The Tibetan eared pheasant grows to a length between 75 and 85 cm (30 and 33 in), with females being slightly smaller than males. The sexes are similar. The beak is reddish-brown, the irises yellowish-orange, and the bare facial skin is red, as are the legs.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in India.
When to see it
Best months: January, April, May, June, July, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Tibetan Eared Pheasant?
- The Tibetan eared pheasant shares many characteristics, such as the short ears and the droopy tail, with the white eared pheasant (C. crossoptilon), as well as having similar calls and hybridising with it in the Salween Valley, so the two may be conspecific. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Tibetan Eared Pheasant?
- The Tibetan Eared Pheasant is a huge sized bird weighing about 2.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Tibetan Eared Pheasant?
- The Tibetan Eared Pheasant occurs in 2 countries, including China.
- What birds look similar to a Tibetan Eared Pheasant?
- The Tibetan Eared Pheasant is most easily confused with the Brown Eared Pheasant, the Blue Eared Pheasant and the White Eared Pheasant.
- Is the Tibetan Eared Pheasant endangered?
- The Tibetan Eared Pheasant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Tibetan Eared Pheasant for real
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