Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has a vast 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 has not been quantified, but it is not believed to 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
The global population size has not been quantified, but probably (perhaps greatly) exceeds 10,000 mature individuals (BirdLife International 2001). Remains locally common in most of its range (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012), particularly around Tibetan monasteries where birds may be fed (potentially increasing annual survival, particularly in winter). Range is vast and largely undisturbed, within which it is sometimes among the most frequently observed pheasant (e.g. Xin Lu 2012); thus while it may only occupy a fraction of the mapped area, its population size is probably large.
Trend justification
Suspected to be stable. Very locally hunting and overgrazing may be threats, but the vast majority of this species' range is undisturbed and remote from plausible threats. Moreover, its population is probably bolstered by artificial feeding provided by Tibetan monasteries, which confers some additional protection to the species. In a recent attempt to model the impact of climate change on the extent of suitable habitat, Li et al. (2023) found that in no modelled scenario did the area of suitable habitat for this species contract.
Currently considered endemic to China, where all records from Tibet, although may marginally extend to southernmost Qinghai, near which hybrids with C. crossoptilon have been reported. Claimed record from Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, India, often accepted (e.g. in BirdLife International 2001) but no specimens traced (Rasmussen and Anderton 2012) and recent survey effort from this region (eBird 2024) have not detected it, and until confirmed its presence in India must be treated as wholly hypothetical.
It occurs in tall dense scrub in dry river valleys, the borders of mixed broadleaved and coniferous forest, and grassy hill slopes, from 3,000 to 5,000 m (and rarely down to 2,400 m in inclement weather). In the breeding season, adult males and females form monogamous pair bonds, and each pair produces one brood per year (Xin Lu 2007). Egg-laying takes place from mid-April to early June, and only females incubate the eggs (Xin Lu 2007).
Two main threats to this species are habitat loss and hunting. Neither are likely to be significant threats to the species' global status and are probably causing no declines, with much of this species' range remote enough from human exploitation.
Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. Recent records from several protected areas. This bird is traditionally protected under the umbrella of Buddhist culture.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Tibetan Eared-pheasant Crossoptilon harmani. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/tibetan-eared-pheasant-crossoptilon-harmani on 22/12/2024.
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 22/12/2024.