It spends the majority of its time foraging for food. It has more seasonal movements than other pheasants in the area, descending to 2000 feet in the winter. The Himalayan monal pheasant can be found up to 4000 feet in the Himalayas. They are entirely independent by the time they are six months old and must find their own territory and partners. When the chicks reach the age of three months, they have lost the majority of their feathers and are able to forage for food on their own. Their feathers are light brown on top and dingy white on the bottom. The young are born precocial, capable of taking care of themselves, and their strongest protection is disguise. The male does not help in child-rearing, though he may stay close by to protect the female and her offspring from predators. She will next construct an unlined nest out of mud or branches scraped from the bushes or a hillside. Mating occurs shortly after a female notices the male's presentation. Throughout the year, the male will make contact calls in the morning, but during certain months, his vocalisations occur throughout the day. The majority of breeding occurs at higher elevations, where the monals are most active during this season. The Himalayan monal pheasant's breeding season runs from April to June. The species is distinguished by a prominent blue patch around the eyes. The male bird's tail feathers are a uniform metallic reddish-brown colour, with a darker hue at the tips. The females, like the males, have a distinctive blue patch over their eyes.īecause of the iridescent metallic-coloured plumage on the adult male bird's neck and wings, the Himalayan Monal is also known as the "nine-coloured bird." When in flight, the bird, which has a white back and black underparts, reveals a large white patch on its rump. White feathers and a layer with a black and copper splotched look make up the tail feathers. The upper sections of the hens' feathers are a speckled brownish-black. They have a white throat and a small crest. Himalayan monals have a piercing whistle that has been compared to that of a curlew.įemales of the species have less colourful feathers than males, although they are still fairly remarkable. During the winter, they can be found at lower elevations. They go above the tree line in the summer to explore the grassy hills. The Himalayan monal is a high-altitude bird that lives at elevations ranging from 2000 to 4500 metres above sea level. Open, coniferous, or mixed forests with rhododendron and bamboo are preferred. For the six months, it takes for the chicks to become self-sufficient, the male stays close by for protection and to assist rear them. Females make a tiny nest on the ground and lay 3–5 eggs, incubating them for 27 days. Himalayan monals interact via a range of calls, and the male is highly loud throughout the day during the early breeding season in order to attract a partner. On hillsides, this mode of foraging leaves visible regions churned over soil up to 25 cm deep. They have long, curved beaks and strong legs that allow them to dig into the rough soil of the highlands to find seeds, tubers, shoots, berries, and insects. Monals in the wild eat a range of seeds, buds, shoots, roots, and small mammals. Himalayan monals dig for food items such as roots, insects, and seeds using their strong beak and claws, leaving a characteristic pattern in the dirt where they have been foraging. Himalayan monal pheasant sound is so pleasing to hear. Himalayan monals are considered endangered in some locations. During the summer, these pheasants browse on grassy areas, but during the colder winter months, they seek cover in forested places. The Himalayan monal is a high-altitude species that can be found across the Himalayas, from Afghanistan through Bhutan, India, and Tibet. Previously, you could tell the young males and females differently by their bigger size and black feathers on the throat instead of white feathers. Male chicks resemble female chicks until they reach a year of age when they begin to become more colourful. On some portions of their feathers, white and black stripes can be seen. Females and young birds (chicks) have a brown look overall. Blue circles of skin circle the eyes of both male and female members of the species. On top of their heads, males have a crest (many feathers). The underside of their tail has a white patch of feathers, but the rest of their underside is black. Male Himalayan monals have brilliant and vibrant blue, green, purple, and red feathers. The males and females of this species have very diverse appearances. The Himalayan monal is a big pheasant native to the Himalayas. It is the national bird of Nepal and the state bird of Uttarakhand, where it is known as the Danfe. It is also known as the Impeyan Monal, Impeyan Pheasant, and Danphe. The Himalayan Monal, Lophophorus impejanus, is a pheasant of the Phasianidae family.
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