Both sexes have a bare red face and greyish legs (the latter separating it from the red-legged silver pheasant). It is generally common and widespread, though three of its eastern subspecies (L. l. oatesi, L. l. lineata, and L. l. crawfurdi) are considered threatened and L. l. moffitti is virtually unknown in the wild.
The species exhibits a uniform red face and greyish legs across both sexes, setting it apart from the red-legged silver pheasant. It has a broad distribution, but three of its eastern subspecies are endangered, while the L. l. moffitti subspecies is rarely found in the wild.