Blue-eared Pheasant: a forest bird endemic to China

The Blue-eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum) is an important bird species, endemic to China and is ranked as a second grade key protected wildlife species in China. These birds are only found in the mountainous regions of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan provinces and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In order to understand systematically the existing information on the biology of the Blue-eared Pheasant, we provide updated information on its habitat, activity, nest-site features, breeding biology, feeding habits, population status and conservation of this pheasant by integrating published data with the information from our field surveys, conducted from 2006 to 2008 in the Gaihai-zecha National Nature Reserve, Gansu.