Brown Eared-Pheasant

     The Brown Eared-Pheasant or the Manchurian Eared-Pheasant is a large Pheasant endemic to the mountain forests area of northern China. Like its cousins; the Blue Eared-Pheasant and the White Eared-Pheasant, it is a heavy digger and uses its large, heavy bill to forage for grubs, insects and roots.

    The Brown Eared-Pheasant is a dark brown bird with a black crown, red bare facial skin, and crimson legs. It’s also characterized by its long creamy white ear-coverts which are located behind its eyes. And the tail consists of elongated white curved feathers which are loose and dark-tipped. Both sexes of the Brown Eared-Pheasant are similar in appearance but the male is slightly larger.

     The Brown Eared-Pheasant usually starts to breed in its second year. These birds form monogamous pairs in the breeding season that stretches from April to June. The Brown Eared-hen lays around 5 to 8 eggs per clutch which she incubates for 26 to 27 days.