![]() Known for its metallic multicolored iridescent plumage, this large-size mountain pheasant is a feast to birdwatchers’ eyes. The young become independent after six months.The Himalayan monal is one of nature’s stunningly beautiful birds. Male give guard throughout the incubation period and until fledging to protect the eggs and chicks from predators. Incubation period is between 26 to 29 days. ![]() Eggs are white or dirty white, with brown spots and paler appearance. The nest is a simple scrape in the ground or a hole in a rock face. ![]() Breeding season is from late April to August. They start breeding in their second year. In India, they found in Himalayan, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh. They are also found in Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan and Burma. They are endemic to the Himalayas, eastern Afghanistan to western China. They forage throughout the day, and feed on various types of seeds, tubers, shoots, berries, terrestrial insects and their larvae.They are great diggers, and use their heavy bills to root out tubers and subterranean insects.Ĭall of Himalayan monal is like a shrill whistle, sometimes described as curlew-like. which is from April to August. are found single or in pairs, Himalayan monal have a shrill whistle, sometimes described as curlew-like. But in breeding season they are usually seen in pairs. Generally, they tend to form large coveys and roost in a group. They move down at about 6,500 feet in winter and goes up to 16,000 feet in the summer. Altitudinal migration are seen in this bird. These pheasants exhibit great tolerance to snow. In winters, they found in lower altitudes. It is a high-altitude bird and found mostly at 9,000 to 10,000 ft elevations.ĭuring the summer, they ventures above the tree-line to wander on the grassy slopes. Himalayan Monal prefer cool upper temperate coniferous or mixed forests resplendent with rhododendron and bamboo with open grassy slopes, cliffs and alpine meadows. Markings of immature birds are not distinctive and resemble females but young males are larger and they have black feathers on the neck and breast. Females also have the blue patch around the eyes. The lower tail coverts of females are white, barred with black and rufous. Throat of female is white and crest is also shorter than male. Upper parts of female monal are covered with mottled brownish-black feathers. The male also has a bare patch of turquoise blue skin around the eye.įemales are quite duller than the males. ![]() The color of breast and underparts are black and the tail is copper. The males have a large white patch on the rump. The tail feathers are uniformly rufous being darker towards the tips. The adult male has a long, metallic-green crest, much like a peacock, changeable reddish copper on the back and sides of the neck and a prominent white back and rump while in flight. They are called "nine-colored bird" due to interspersing mix of metallic colors of green, purple, red and blue. The male’s impressive display features bowing and vigorous waving of the rufous tail, but it is the Male has the iridescent plumage on the wings and neck. Females generally slightly smaller and lighter than male. Average length is 2.3 feet and the weight of males and females range between 4.4 and 5.2 lbs (1980 gram - 2 380 gram respectively). Himalayan Monal are the most beautiful pheasants due to their striking metallic-colored plumage. Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal and the state bird of Uttaranchal and Himachal Pradesh in India. The Himalayan Monal ( Scientific Name : Lophophorus impejanus) belongs to the Order: Galliformesis and Family: Phasianidaealso regionally known as the Impeyan Monal or Impeyan Pheasant.
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