Brown eared-pheasant  (Crossoptilon mantchuricum)

Description

A unique feature of eared-pheasants (Crossoptilon spp.) is that males and females are virtually identical, even more remarkable as the plumage is highly specialised and ornamental (4). This large pheasant has a velvety black head and neck, gradually shading to a deep brown on the body and whitish on the lower back and rump, which extends into a long soft white tail, broadly tipped in black (4) (5). The bare facial skin and legs are a crimson-red, but the bird is most notable for its prominent white cheek tufts that extend from the base of the bill, somewhat resembling an up-turned moustache (4) (5). The male is slightly larger than the female, but can only really be distinguished by its spurs, which are larger and rounder at the base than the hen’s (4) (5) (6).

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