• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Justification of Red List category
This species has a large range, hence is not believed to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (extent of occurrence <20,000 km² combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). The population trend is suspected to be stable, hence the thresholds under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations) are not met. The population size is relatively small, however the species is not declining and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For this reason, the species has been classified as Least Concern. 

Population justification
Population size not well estimated, but may be relatively small. Previously thought to number c.5,000-17,000 birds, of which c.3,300-11,000 were thought to be mature individuals (BirdLife International 2001: Li and Liu 1993, Zhang 1998, Zhang Z.(verbally) 1999). The population has probably remained relatively stable since this time, and may have increased slightly in response to an increase in the extent of suitable habitat. In the absence of any data from which to curate a more accurate estimate, the population size is estimated to number 5,000-15,000 mature individuals, but this requires verification using more accurate survey methods.

Trend justification
Current distribution evidently much contracted from pre-exploitation of C. mantchuricum and the forests in its range. Where it was once widely distributed in Shanxi, the east and centre of Shaanxi, and the west and north of Hebei, its current distribution is more or less confined to the Huanglongshan in Shaanxi, the Luliang Mountains in west Shanxi, the XiaoWutai Mountains in Hebei, and parts of the Baihua Mountains west of Beijing city (Li et al. 2016). The chief cause of this range contraction has been a reduction in habitat extent, however data in Li et al. (2016) suggest that the extent of habitat has increased in the last three decades, a fact also supported by a more recent appraisal of suitable habitat extent, which showed an increase of c. 5% between 2010 and 2020 (analysed by sRedList [2023], using data from Jung et al. [2020]). How this translates into trends for this species is difficult to determine, but it is likely that the population of this species is now relatively stable.

The overall trend of the small, isolated population west of Beijing city is difficult to evaluate. In Xiaowutaishan National Nature Reserve (NNR), population densities fell from 11.45 to 3.68 birds/km² between 1996 and 2017 (Wang and An 2007, Liu 2017), an outcome attributed to increased recreational disturbance, but in Baihuashan NNR, it increased from 0.98 to 2.66 birds/km² between 1993 and 2017 (Li and Liu 1993, Liu 2017). However, the total area of suitable habitat available to this population increased, from 225 to 248 km² between 1995 and 2013 (most of this area increase was from outside the protected area network, with the area of habitat within Xiaowutaishan NNR falling from 58 km² to 33 km²) and fragmentation reduced (all data from Song et al. 2020).

Overall the global population of this species is suspected to be stable, with increases in suitable habitat thought to offset localised declines due to disturbance.

Endemic to China. Once widely distributed in Shanxi, the east and centre of Shaanxi, and the west and north of Hebei, its current distribution is more or less confined to the Huanglongshan in Shaanxi, the Luliang Mountains in west Shanxi, the XiaoWutai Mountains in Hebei, and parts of the Baihua Mountains west of Beijing city (Li et al. 2016).

Occurs at much lower altitudes than the three other Crossoptilon species. It breeds in coniferous forest or mixed conifer-broadleaf forest at up to 2,600 m. In winter, it moves to lower altitudes (minimum 1,100 m), to scrub at the forest edge on south-facing slopes. During surveys in western Beijing, the species could not be found lower than 1,000 m (He Fenqi in litt. 2012).

Historically large areas of habitat in this species' range were cleared for urban and agricultural expansion, although in recent decades this has been negligible, and habitat extent may have actually increased (Li et al. 2016, Jung et al. 2020). In Xiaowutaishan National Nature Reserve (NNR), population densities fell from 11.45 to 3.68 birds/km² between 1996 and 2017 (Wang and An 2007, Liu 2017), an outcome attributed to increased recreational disturbance. This however is not thought to have contributed to global population declines, since this reduction in density affects only a comparatively small population, and has likely been offset by recoveries elsewhere.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It is a nationally-protected species in China. It has been the subject of ongoing research since the early 1980s. Four nature reserves (Luyashan, Pangquangou, Wulushan and Xiaowutai Shan) are crucial for the protection of this species and its habitats, and there is evidence that numbers have increased in Luyashan and Pangquangou since the reserves were established. In 2001, Huanglongshan Provincial Nature Reserve was established in Huanglong county (He Fenqi in litt. 2012). The tree-planting and forest management programmes since the 1980s are likely to have benefited this species in some other areas, as have captive breeding programmes, although these are of little use where population decline is the result of habitat loss and no subsequent habitat construction/repair has been made (BirdLife International 2001). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Continue to ensure recoveries in this species following reforestation efforts and safeguards from protected areas. Continue to monitor population trends.

96-100 cm. Brown-and-white pheasant with prominent white cheek tufts extending from bill base. Mainly darkish brown body plumage with white lower back, rump and uppertail-coverts, and longish, filamentous white tail with broad, dark tips. Bare red facial skin and legs. Female usually slightly smaller and lacks tarsus spurs. Voice Utters high-pitched, raucous calls and call transliterated "Trip-c-r-r-r-r-r-ah!" of variable length (sometimes abrupt, occasionally drawn out for c.60 seconds), increasing in pitch and volume.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
He, F. & Zhang, Z.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Brown Eared-pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/brown-eared-pheasant-crossoptilon-mantchuricum on 23/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 23/12/2024.