[Objectives] Feeding height is crucial for the expression of natural behavior and animal welfare of captive birds. However, literatures about this issue are unavailable so far. This study is to explore the optimal feeding height of caged Blue-eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum), which is a class II national protected animal species in China, to provide a reference for feeding and to improve the quality of feeding management and welfare. [Methods] We designed and made a feeding trough with 14 different heights, ranging from 0 cm to 70 cm (Fig. 1). Then we used this feeding trough to observe the feeding sequence of the C. auritum on either seed or vegetable in each box at different heights at Beijing Zoo. According to the feeding order of C. auritum to the trough of fourteen heights, the feeding behavior of different heights was assigned with a value. The first feeding height was assigned with a value of 14, which decreased successively, and the height without feeding was assigned with a value of 0. The experiment was repeated three times. R software was used to analyze the preference value data. Regression analysis of feeding preference values versus feeding height was performed using OriginPro 2021. The t-test method was used to analyze the feeding habits of C. auritum with different body heights. [Results] The results showed that captive Blue-eared Pheasant had different preferences for the height of the trough when feeding on seed food (corn kernels) and leaf-used lettuce (Lactuca sativa). The preferred feeding height of seed food was 0 cm, and the preferred height range of leaf-used lettuce was 15﹣25 cm (Fig. 2). We found that the feeding rejection rate increased when the feeding trough height was 65 cm and above (feeding rejection rate ≥ 38.9%, Fig. 2). The preference value of Blue-eared Pheasant decreased with feeding trough height when they feed on corn kernels (regression analysis: y =﹣0.564x + 43.146，R2 = 0.946, y represents preference value, and x represents feeding trough height), and the preferred height when they feed on leaf-used lettuce increased from 0 cm to 25cm first, and then decreased (regression analysis: y =﹣0.014x2 + 0.543x + 26.487, R2 = 0.952, y represents preference value, and x represents feeding trough height, Fig. 3). In addition, body height of adult Blue-eared Pheasant showed no significant effect on feeding height preferences (t-test, Fig. 4 and 5). [Conclusion] Our study showed that captive Blue-eared Pheasants preferred different trough heights in feeding different food types, and show different patterns of height change with different food types. The results were correlated with feeding behavior of wild Blue-eared Pheasant, which provide a reference for the breeding of captive Blue-eared Pheasant.