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

Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not 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). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over three generations). The population size is suspected to number in the tens of thousands, thus 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 these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Population justification
The population size of this species has not formerly been estimated, although Brazil (2009) suggested there were <10,000 breeding pairs, while others have suggested there may be as many as 100,000-200,000 birds (J. Fellowes in litt. 2007, He Fen-qi in litt. 2007). Survey data indicate that it can occur at a moderately high density of c.6 individuals/km² where habitat is most suitable (Ding Ping in litt. 2005). Given the large area of forest in its range (totalling c.250,000 km²; Global Forest Watch 2022, based on Hansen et al. [2013]), the population likely numbers several tens of thousands. It is therefore suspected, somewhat precautionarily, to number 20,000-100,000 mature individuals.

Trend justification
Habitat loss was previously suspected to have caused moderately rapid population declines, however clearance of natural forest has been illegal since 1998. Although localised clearance and hunting does take place, this is thought to be causing very slow population declines at worst. With an increasing prevalence of reforestation schemes in this region of China, it is plausible that the population may even increase over the next few decades as forests mature and become suitable again. Precautionarily, hunting and some localised degradation are suspected of causing slow, but unquantified, declines.

Syrmaticus ellioti is endemic to south-east China, where it has been recorded from Guizhou, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi and Guangdong (BirdLife International 2001).

It occurs in a wide variety of subtropical forest-types, and sometimes in scrub vegetation between 200 m and 1,900 m. The most important habitats are broadleaf forest (both evergreen and deciduous) and mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest. Its preferred breeding habitat is forest with a tree cover of more than 90%.

Most of the natural forest within its range has been cleared or modified as a result of the demands for agricultural land and timber, but natural forest clearance has been illegal since 1998 and some areas are reforesting. Current threats include the burning of forest by man-made hill fires, collection of firewood, and illegal hunting.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It is a nationally-protected species in China and occurs in numerous protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2023).

Conservation Actions Proposed
Develop a robust population monitoring methodology to allow monitoring of key protected areas. Continue to monitor forest cover loss in its range using remote sensing data.

Male c.80 cm, female c.50 cm. Boldly marked pheasant with long barred tail. Male rich reddish-brown with whitish-grey hood, black throat, white belly and white shoulder and wing-bars, with tail evenly barred rufous and pale grey. Female duller, more greyish-brown, lacks white wing- and shoulder-bars and has shorter tail with indistinct bars. Similar spp. Larger female Reeves's Pheasant S. reevesii has warmer buff head, lacking black throat and red facial skin. Voice Low clucks and chuckles, and a shrill squeal. Hints Display includes audible wing-whirring.

Text account compilers
Berryman, A.

Contributors
Benstead, P., Bird, J., Calvert, R., Davidson, P., Fellowes, J., He, F., Keane, A., Ping, D., Taylor, J., Wei, L. & Zhang, Z.

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Elliot's Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/elliots-pheasant-syrmaticus-ellioti 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.