Himalayan Monal

The Himalayan monal, also known as the Impeyan monal and Impeyan pheasant, is a resplendent bird native to the Himalayan region. This large-sized pheasant, reaching about 70 cm in length, is a sight to behold. The male, with a weight of up to 2,380 grams, is adorned with a kaleidoscope of colors, sporting a metallic green crest and coppery feathers on its back and neck. Its white rump is particularly noticeable in flight. The female, weighing up to 2,150 grams, is more modest in her coloration, with a white throat patch and a white strip on the tail. Juveniles and first-year males resemble the female but are distinguishable by size and clarity of markings.

Identification Tips

To identify the male Himalayan monal, look for its long, metallic green crest and the prominent white rump visible during flight. The tail feathers are uniformly rufous, darkening towards the tips. Females can be identified by their white throat patch and the white strip on their tail, with lower tail coverts barred with black and red.

Habitat

The Himalayan monal is found in upper temperate oak-conifer forests, interspersed with open grassy slopes, cliffs, and alpine meadows. It thrives at elevations between 2,400 and 4,500 meters, though it is most commonly seen between 2,700 and 3,700 meters.

Distribution

This bird's range extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas, including India, Nepal, southern Tibet, and Bhutan. It is a common sight in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and has been recorded in various regions across the Indian Himalayan Range.

Behaviour

The Himalayan monal is known to dig through snow to find plant roots and invertebrates. It is a resilient species that adapts to the snowy conditions of its high-altitude habitat.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Himalayan monal is varied, consisting mainly of tubers, nuts, tender leaves, shoots, and a range of insects and other invertebrates. It forages by digging in the snow for shoots and invertebrates, with plant matter forming a significant part of its diet.

Conservation status

The Himalayan monal is currently listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, it faces threats from poaching and habitat disturbance in some areas, particularly due to hydroelectric power development in the western Himalayas. Poaching is driven by the value of the male's crest, which is seen as a status symbol and a sign of authority. Despite these threats, the species is not considered endangered in Pakistan, where it can be easily located, with population densities reaching as high as five pairs per square mile in some regions.