Catreus wallichii
The Cheer Pheasant, *Catreus wallichii*, is a magnificent, large pheasant endemic to the Himalayan range, instantly recognizable by its long, graduated tail and a prominent shaggy crest. Males measure 90-118 cm (35-46 in) with tails up to 75 cm (30 in), while females are smaller at 60-70 cm (24-28 in) with shorter tails. Both sexes exhibit a predominantly greyish plumage finely barred with black and buff, though males boast a more striking crimson facial patch. This species is the sole member...
Found on steep, rocky, grassy hillsides and open scrub forest, often near cultivation, between 1,200 and 3,300 meters (4,000-11,000 ft) elevation.
Omnivorous, primarily consuming roots, tubers, bulbs, berries, and seeds, supplemented by insects, grubs, and occasionally small reptiles.
Cheer Pheasants are generally crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk, seeking shelter in dense scrub or trees during the day and night. They forage by scratching vigorously through leaf litter and soil, unearthing roots, tubers, and insects. Males are territorial, proclaiming their presenc...
The Cheer Pheasant is an endemic resident of the western and central Himalayas, with a fragmented distribution spanning several countries. Its range extends from northern Pakistan, including areas like the Margalla Hills and Murree Hills, eastward through India across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal ...
Vulnerable
- The Cheer Pheasant's common name is onomatopoeic, derived directly from its loud, ringing 'cheer-a, cheer-a' vocalization. - It is one of the very few pheasant species believed to exhibit true monogamy, with pairs often staying together for multiple breeding seasons. - The male's remarkably lon...