Cheer Pheasant

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Cheer Pheasant

Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Phasianidae
Genus: Catreus
Cabanis, 1851
Species: C. wallichi
Binomial name
Catreus wallichi
(Hardwicke, 1827)

The Cheer Pheasant, Catreus wallichi also known as Wallich's Pheasant is an endangered species of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the only member in monotypic genus Catreus.

The Cheer Pheasant is distributed in the highlands and scrublands of the Himalayas region of India, Nepal and Pakistan. These birds lack the color and brilliance of most pheasants, with buffy gray plumage and long gray crests. Its long tail is gray and brown. The female is slightly smaller in overall size.

The scientific name commemorates the Danish botanist Nathaniel Wallich.

Due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size and hunting in some areas, the Cheer Pheasant is evaluated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. It is listed on Appendix I of CITES. While an endangered species, there are attempts to reintroduce captive bred Cheer Pheasant in Pakistan.

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