The Himalayan Monal is a large-sized colorful bird belonging to the family of Phasianida and genus Lophophorus. This pheasant species is recognized as the national bird of Nepal.
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Aves
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Lophophorus
Lophophorus impejanus
Table Of Content
Table of Contents
Scientific Classification
Animalia
Chordata
Aves
Galliformes
Phasianidae
Lophophorus
Lophophorus impejanus
Table of Contents
The bird is native to the mountainous regions of north-eastern India, Bhutan and other countries bordered by the Himalayas.
Scientific Name
The scientific name of Himalayan Monal is Lophophorus impejanus.
Common Names
The bird is also known by its common names: Impeyan Pheasant, Impeyan Monal, and Danphe.
Description
The male and female birds are different from each other as there are certain features present in males that remain absent in females.
Height: The males are 22 to 25 inches long. The female monals are smaller in size. Some birds can be 27 inches long.
Weight: There is great variation of weight in males and females. The males weigh between 1980 to 2380g and the females approximately weigh in the range of 1800 to 2150g.
Wingspan: The wings are between 289 to 320 mm long in males and 259 to 287mm long in females. Tail: The tails are found to be somewhere between 215 to 235mm.
Head: The head is usually bright green and have spoon-like feathers on top. There is a metallic green finish to the head-crest region in male birds which remains absent in other Himalayan monals. The head crest in females is short and brown having ordinary feathers.
Picture 1 – Himalayan Monal
Color: The males are very colorful; red tails, bluish wings and a black colored chest. The females are usually dull colored having a white throat. The back ends of the neck have a yellowish patch. The top end of the bluish black tails also has yellowish patches.
Feathers: The males appear to have somewhat of a rainbow like feathers. The females of this species have black and brown feathers. Tail feathers are light brown in males and the females have a patch near the buttocks.
Bill: The males have long bills with sharp bends which helps them in digging in to the food smoothly.
Juveniles: The babies are chocolate brown in color. They have dark colored wings with shades of dirty white.
Behavior
There are some interesting behavioral patterns found in this bird:
Male birds show more aggression and competitiveness than their female counterparts.
They use their long, curved beaks and strong legs in making deep dugouts in hard soil to bring out food.
They have varied calls that are distinct in specializing alarm, aggression, mating and contentment.
During winters, the females associate in groups of 20 individuals or so.
Male birds are generally found to gather in groups of 2 to 3. They turn territorial only during mating season.
Diet
The type of diet can be different depending on availability of food and living area. The common food items eaten by this bird are berries, terrestrial insects along with their larvae, tubers, shoots and seeds.
In captivity, they are fed pumpkins, romaine lettuce, whole apples and insects.
Distribution
This species is largely found in the Himalayan stretch of eastern Afghanistan to the western parts of China continuing through north-eastern frontiers of India and southern Tibet. They also exist in the Kashmir region in northern parts of Pakistan., in Bhutan, and have been reportedly found in Burma.
Habitat
These are high-altitude birds living in heights that range from 2,100 to 4,500 meters above sea level. They are found to stay on the grass-filled slopes during summer. During the winter months they take shelter in coniferous and mixed forests having dense rhododendron and bamboo growth.
Predators
The birds stay in high altitudes. Snow leopard is one of predators of this bird. There are several other mammals like the Himalayan weasels which can be considered as predators of Himalayan monals. Humans are a great threat to these birds.
Adaptation
They are highly adaptive in nature. They can tolerate extreme cold temperatures. During snow they are found digging through the snowy soils in search of tubers, roots, invertebrates and parts of plants.
Mating Season
The birds start mating when they reach the age of 2 years. These birds usually start breeding in late April. The male birds keep calling throughout the day in their quest of attracting females for mating.
Reproduction
As the mating season comes to an end, the female pheasant digs out a carving in the ground to lay her eggs. She usually lays 3 to 5 eggs.
Life Cycle
The mother incubates the eggs for 27 days all by herself. During incubation, the male bird protects the breeding ground. The chicks are protected and fed until they learn to fly. The young birds become independent by the time they reach 6 months of age. The young ones start searching for food all by themselves after they are independent. Maturity and mating starts by the time the birds reach 2 years of age.
Picture 2 – Himalayan Monal Photo
Life Span
The life span of the birds living in wild is unknown. However when kept captive, they are known to live for 10 to 12 years.
Call
These species have distinct set of calls that differ in giving out various signals of alarm, mating, attraction, aggression and satisfaction. Under normal circumstances these birds call out in wild and ringing whistles. This tone is also used when there is an alarm. Disturbed birds give out chuck-chuck calls.
Migration & Range
These birds stay in high altitudes. With the advent of winter season, they perform altitudinal migration escaping downwards to protect themselves from cold temperatures. Their normal range of living is between 2400 to 4500 meters above sea level. They migrate to 2000 meters in altitudes showing clear fluctuations and altitudinal migration. They have the strength to bear snowfall but they stay in groups during winter season finding shades and shelters for warmth.
Conservation Status
IUCN has classified this bird as LC or “Least Concern”.
Interesting Facts
They dig up grounds for food and forage in small clusters.
The males and females have distinct features separating them from one another.
They are strong, adaptive and aggressive in nature.
This is the national bird of Nepal and state bird of Uttarakhand.
They are altitudinal migratory in nature, going down in altitudes during cold temperatures.
