Blue Eared Pheasant
More of a forest dweller than the other eared pheasants, these birds are highly social and can be seen in flocks of 50 to 60, feeding out on the bushy alpine meadows. However, they are most at home on the well wooded slopes of mountain sides. They are strong diggers, foraging for tubers and roots.
Crossoptilon auritum
Tying with Blue Eared Pheasant Feathers
There is no better substitute for heron than the Blue Eared Pheasant. The variety of sizes make flies of just about any size possible. Steelhead and salmon tiers have always made use of these feathers hackling fishing and framed flies.
An under used material from this bird is the herl found on the tail feathers. Long and very fine, this herl is great for small butts on flies or for ribbing a body on a fly. Trout tier can use this material for bodies on nymphs and duns. Bleached and dyed blue eared pheasant opens up a whole new creative possibility for especially steelhead tiers.
The blue grey color of the wings will make excellent wet fly wings for lead wing coachmans and similar flies. Even saltwater tier will find uses for the long herl as dark backs on larger baitfish patterns.
- feather assortments
- full skins
- fly patterns
- links to other pheasants
Feather Assortments
There is quite a range of sizes on a bird, everything from the very smallest to the palm sized tail coverts.
To make things easier, I'm seperated all the feathers from one bird into small, medium, and large. Each assortment will include varying sizes within the range you choose.
Click the image for a larger view.
15 large feathers- $ 15 medium feathers- $ 15 small feathers- $
tail coverts - $/each |
Feather Assortment
Here are some feathers from a breeding male. I've put together a few different assortments to choose from.
Click the image for a larger view.
large - $40 medium - $30 small - $20 |
Full Skin
This is a huge male. I'm not sure of the age but it is huge. Unfortunatly, I didn't skin this bird and the breeder who did let the neck dry in a stange position.
All the feathers are there, but as you can see in the picture, the neck feathers are standing up.
The tail feathers are perfect, no wear at all on any edges.
Overall, the feathers on this bird are in good condition and the color is very good.
Click on the picture to enlarge the image.
$300 |
Full Skin
This is an older male in full feather. He was just coming out of the molt so his feathers are in perfect condition.
The tail however is not fully grown in and the center tails are last years feathers. Tails molt from the outer pairs inward so the center pair is the last to come in.
Overall, the feathers are in good condition and the color is very good.
Click on the picture to enlarge the image.
$275 |
Full Skin
This is a second year male, however, the rump feathers are missing.
This bird was in with a hen that had the bad habit of picking. Hens have a tendancy to do that because they are looking for protein, and feathers are one of the best sourses.
So other than the rump and tail, the rest of the body feathers are in good condition and the color is very good.
Click on the picture to enlarge the image.
$ |
I'm looking for pictures of flies and the recipies you used to tie them. Please give me a call or email me for more information.
Thanks!
Pheasants
All pheasants are native to Asia. There are 52 different breeds of these beautiful birds, 17 of which are listed as endangered.
Habitat destruction and hunting has reduced the number of these birds in the wild. The Hainan Peacock Pheasant, thought to be a subspecies of the grey, is one of these and is one of the most endangered birds in all of China. Today it is at greater risk of extinction than even the Giant Panda.
None listed here are in such danger - but with habitat destruction and population growth, it's just a matter of time.
Breeds:
Tragopans, Monals & Koklass |
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Gallopheasants |
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Long-tailed & True Pheasants |
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Ruffed & Eared Pheasants |
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Peacock Pheasants |
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Cross-breeds |
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hillside habitat
breeding male
Spey Patterns
center tails
salmon fishing
