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. It has long, broadly barred tail, pronounced crest, and red facial skin. Male is more cleanly and strongly marked than female, with pronounced barring on mantle, unmarked neck and broader barring across tail. It lives for 4-6 years.

Conservation status:

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.