Blue Eared Pheasant
(Crossoptilon auritum)
Range: Blue Eared Pheasants are native to the mountains of Central China.
Habitat: While these birds live in mountainous areas, they prefer coniferous forests, up to 11,500 feet in elevation. They are very hardy, and do not mind snow at all.
Description: Unlike many other types of pheasants, male and female Blue Eared pheasants look quite similar. They have bare, red facial skin, with velvety black feathers for on the crown, and their "ears" begin below the chin and extend up over the head, looking a bit like two white horns. The rest of their bodies are covered with bluish-grey feathers, and their legs are red.
Females tend to be a bit smaller, but the main difference between the sexes is the spurs. Males have larger, rounded spurs, while females have smaller, oblong spurs.
Status in the wild: There are healthy population numbers of Blue Eared Pheasants in the wild.
Avicultural Data
Status in aviculture: This is the most common of the four types of "eared" pheasants raised in captivity.
Breeding Season: April to June
Clutch Size: 6-12 eggs
Incubation Period: 26 days
Miscellaneous Notes: Blue Eared Pheasants have large beaks that are great for digging - and they love to dig. Most owners report that they need to be moved every few days to give the grass a chance to recover.
Blue Eared pheasants will become quite tame in captivity and are curious. Many people who raise them say that they will eat from their hands. The most likely time for Blue Eared Pheasants to show aggression at all is during breeding season, when the males are very protective of the females.
It is recommended that Blue Eared Pheasants be kept in pairs, as they are monogamous and become quite attached to their mates.
This product was added to our catalog on Friday 17 February, 2012.
