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
Population size unknown. Area of suitable habitat is vast within its range, within which this species is often found to be common/regularly encountered (e.g. Madge and McGowan 2002, Brooks et al. 2019, Li et al. 2022, eBird 2024). While hunting is considered a local threat, much of this species' range is remote from where this could plausibly be considered a threat capable of globally suppressing numbers to a density low enough to suspect the population size might be small. Accordingly, while the population size is not formally estimated here, it is considered highly likely to number in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands.
Trend justification
Population trend difficult to establish, but suspected here to be stable. Plausible operating threats to this species include habitat loss/degradation and hunting, but these have largely been on a local scale with large parts of this species' vast range remaining remote from exploitation and degradation. Habitat extent loss between 2010 and 2020 within its range was minimal (<1%) with some evidence that reforestation efforts in some provinces (particularly Sichuan) since the late 1990s may have increased the area of habitat suitable for this species (data analysed from sRedList [2023] using data from Jung et al. [2020]), while in the western parts of its range it likely benefits from traditional Tibetan culture, which prohibits the species' exploitation.
Crossoptilon crossoptilon is found in China, where it is known from Qinghai, Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet. Has occasionally been speculated to occur in north-east India (e.g. Rasmussen and Anderton 2012) but its known distribution does not approach the Indian border particularly closely, and there is no evidence it occurs. Similarly, no evidence from Myanmar where, however, this species' range does approach rather closely.
It inhabits coniferous and mixed forests near the treeline, plus subalpine birch and rhododendron scrub, at 3,000-4,300 m (occasionally as low as 2,800 m in winter). Its distribution appears to be determined primarily by water, foraging sites and predation (Fei Jia et al. 2005). It can be common around Buddhist monasteries where it receives cultural protection, but it generally occurs at very low densities in small groups (A. Pack-Blumenau in litt. 2006). The species is monogamous during the breeding season (Wu Yi and Peng Jitai 1996), but it can occasionally be found in groups of up to 30 individuals in winter. It feeds by pecking at the ground and digging for bulbs.
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.
86-96 cm. White plumage distinctive. Sometimes washed grey on the upperparts. Has a black tail, red legs, a red face, and black cap. Juveniles are brownish-grey but quickly obtain adult plumage. Similar spp. None. Voice advertising call is a far-carrying raucous grating.
Text account compilers
Berryman, A.
Contributors
Garson, P., Grabowski, K.-H., Kaul, R., Lu, X., Pack-Blumenau, A. & Wang, N.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: White Eared-pheasant Crossoptilon crossoptilon. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/white-eared-pheasant-crossoptilon-crossoptilon on 18/12/2024.
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 18/12/2024.