It belongs to the Phasianidae family of Galliformes order, with the scientific name of Lophophorus impejanus (Latin), or Himalayan Monal Pheasant (English).
Its full length is 58 to 60 centimeters. The male's upper body is mostly metalescent green, violet, and greenish blue, etc. Its lower back is white, rectrices are reddish brown, and lower part is brown black. Its head is aeruginous with a tuft of long cristae. The tectices of alae have similar color with the back feather, and the remiges are dun with aeruginous luster. The female bird is tan with black, brown and yellow stripes. Its chin, larynx and lower back are white.
It inhabits mostly in mixed broadleaf-conifer forests, wild woods and cuckoo bushes at an elevation of 2,500 to 4,600 meters. It vertically migrates with seasonal variations and feeds on plant roots and culms.
Himalayan Monal Pheasantis a resident bird, distributed in Yadong of southern and southeastern Tibet, and the east of Yalung Zangbo River in China. In recent years its quantity has been increased and can be often seen in wild. It has been listed in Appendix I ofInternational Trade Convention on Endangered Wild Animal and Plant Species.
Email to Friends
Print
Save