Chinese Monal
Lophophorus lhuysii
The Chinese Monal (Lophophorus lhuysii) is a legendary partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found only in China, weighing about 3.0 kg. The Chinese monal or Chinese impeyan is a species in the pheasant family Phasianidae native to west-central China, where it is restricted to the mountains of western Sichuan and southern Gansu.
About the Chinese Monal
The Chinese monal or Chinese impeyan is a species in the pheasant family Phasianidae native to west-central China, where it is restricted to the mountains of western Sichuan and southern Gansu.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is the largest of the three monals and, by weight, is one of the larger species of Phasianidae, after the turkeys, the peafowls, and the capercaillies. Males measure 76–80 cm (30–31 in) in length while females measure 72–75 cm (28–30 in). The mean weight is reported to be 3.18 kg (7.0 lb). The male has a large drooping purple crest, a metallic green head, blue bare skin around the eyes, a reddish gold mantle, bluish green feathers, black underparts, and a white rump; the plumage is highly iridescent. The female is dark brown with white on its throat.
What the Chinese Monal sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: April, May, June, November, with peak activity in May. It is a summer visitor species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Chinese Monal?
- This is the largest of the three monals and, by weight, is one of the larger species of Phasianidae, after the turkeys, the peafowls, and the capercaillies. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Chinese Monal?
- The Chinese Monal is a huge sized bird weighing about 3.0 kg.
- Where can you see a Chinese Monal?
- The Chinese Monal is endemic to China, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What does a Chinese Monal sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Chinese Monal on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Chinese Monal?
- The Chinese Monal is most easily confused with the Sclater's Monal and the Himalayan Monal.
- Is the Chinese Monal endangered?
- The Chinese Monal is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Chinese Monal for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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