Cheer Pheasant
NameCheer Pheasant
Common NameCheer Pheasant
Scientific NameCatreus wallichii
FamilyPhasianidae
Wingspan (cm)65
Length (cm)104
Weight (g)1587.5
Plumage DetailsBoth sexes have a prominent shaggy crest and bare red facial skin. The plumage is predominantly greyish-brown, heavily barred and mottled with black and buff. The very long tail is also barred with chestnut and black.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its loud, far-carrying, and distinctive 'cheer-cheer-cheer' or 'chir-a-pir, chir-a-pir, chir-a-pir' call, often vocalizing at dawn and dusk.
Primary Dietomnivore
Primary Habitatsmountain, grassland
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeEndemic to the western and central Himalayas, found in northern Pakistan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (India), and western Nepal.
Identifying FeaturesProminent shaggy crest, Bare red facial skin, Long, barred tail, Greyish-brown plumage with black and buff barring, Loud 'cheer' call
Description
The Cheer Pheasant is a large, long-tailed pheasant endemic to the Himalayas, known for its distinctive shaggy crest and bare red facial skin. It typically inhabits steep, rocky, and grassy hillsides, often near cultivation, where it forages for roots, seeds, and insects.
