The blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) is a galliform bird species of the family Phasianidae that inhabits the mountain forests of central China. No subspecies are known.
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Galliformes |
| Family | Phasianidae |
| Genus | Crossoptilon |
| Species | Crossoptilon auritum |
The blue eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) is a galliform bird species of the family Phasianidae that inhabits the mountain forests of central China. No subspecies are known. It owes its name to the striking tufts of white feathers that grow on either side of its head like «ears», contrasting with its greyish and bluish plumage.
It lives in forests on rocky slopes and in mountain meadows in central China, at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres above sea level.
It feeds on a wide variety of plant matter —especially seeds, roots, tubers and fruit— as well as small insects, worms, larvae and even small rodents, which it catches as it scratches the earth in search of food.
It reaches breeding maturity from its second year of life. A clutch may consist of up to 12 eggs, although about 6 is usual, with an incubation period of around 26 days. In captivity, the species is somewhat difficult to breed because of inbreeding problems in the existing populations.
Its characteristic ear tufts of white feathers, which give it its common name, are not true ears but specialised feathers that stick out on either side of the head, a feature shared with other species of the genus Crossoptilon.
