![]() ![]() Hunting and trapping by shepherds and poachers during and after monsoon cannot be ignored. The main threats to the species arise from hunting and trapping for local consumption especially during winter, when the bird descends to lower altitudes, closer to human habitations. This bird is reported from all Himalayan protected areas: Makalu Barun, Sagarmatha, Langtang, Shey Phoksundo, Khaptad and Rara National Parks Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Kanchenjungha, Gaurishankar, Manaslu, Annapurna and Api Nampa Conservation Areas. In Nepal it is fairly common widespread resident subject to vertical movements between from 3300-4750m in summer and down to 2500m in winter. Himalayan Monal is native to Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. The nest is a simple scrape, often under the shelter of a bush, a rock, or in the hole of some large tree. Incubation period is 28 days (but some time 26-29 days). Eggs are laid in rudimentary nests on ground during May-June, generally under boulders and are 4-6 (sometime 2-3) in number. The bird is usually seen digging for tubers and roots, which seem to form their main diet in addition to grass roots and seeds, berries, mosses, insects and grubs. Terrestrial insects and tubers forms are the chief food. ![]() A dozen of cocks can be seen digging under the trees and open lands in the early morning. It digs for tubers with powerful bill, often remaining in one spot for half an hour or more. When flushed, the birds take to wing emitting a loud call sounding like pi-pi-pi. The bird is usually quite shy and flushes at a considerable distance. The species is reported to be polygamous males can be seen with more than one female. The species prefers alpine and sub-alpine areas in steep grassy and open rocky slopes and the adjacent forest during summer and descends to lower altitudes in rhododendron forest during winter, especially in times of heavy snow fall. The young become completely independent at around six months of age.Himalayan Monal / Impeyan Pheasant ( Lophophorus impejanus) belongs to Galliformes order and Phasianidae family. He continues to protect the young until they fledge. Following mating the female lays 3-5 eggs in a shallow scrape, incubating them for 27 days with the male standing guard over her throughout this period. The male begins calling throughout the day, using a bobbing body display to attract a female. Their breeding season begins in April while they are still at high altitude. The Himalayan monal is preyed up on by large birds of prey and the snow leopard. ![]() This leads to areas in their range which show distinctive signs of feeding. They forage throughout the day and dig extensively with their bills often up to 25cm deep. They feed on seeds, tubers, shoots, berries, insects and their larvae. They normally live in the steep sided forested valleys in winter but when summer comes they move to higher altitude, often above the tree line. The Himalayan monal lives in the coniferous and open forests at high altitude. The male has an iridescent multi-coloured plumage while the female, like all female pheasants, is much drabber. This stunningly striking member of the pheasant family is, as its name suggests, found living throughout the Himalayan mountains. ![]()
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