This entry covers the drouynii subspecies of the White Eared Pheasant. Males and females have the same plumage, and it lives in high mountain forests.
In the drouynii subspecies, males and females are reported to have the same plumage; it has a strong, broad bill.
White Eared-pheasants in Daocheng, Sichuan, dig into woodland soil for food. They forage by turning over soil even where few low plants grow. Researchers observed extensive ground disturbed by the birds in local woodland.
A January–April 2003 survey divided a mountainside around Zhujie Monastery into 172 squares, each 200 metres across. White Eared-pheasants were detected in 56 squares. Researchers compared water distances and vegetation characteristics between detected and undetected squares.
Occurrence was associated with proximity to permanent water and greater shrub cover. The authors suggested that digging for underground food helps explain use of woodland with sparse undergrowth. Food beneath the soil, water and surrounding vegetation together shape this local winter habitat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The 2005 local study warned that greater demand for firewood could damage woodland habitat. It recommended managing wood collection and using alternatives such as electricity to reduce pressure on the forest.