About the Himalayan Monal
The Himalayan monal, also called Impeyan monal, is a landfowl native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 2,100–4,500 m (6,900–14,800 ft). It is part of the family Phasianidae and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe or danfe, and state bird of Uttarakhand, India, where it is known as a monal. The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, the wife of the British chief justice of Bengal, Sir Elijah Impey.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
It is a relatively large-sized landfowl, 24–30 in (61–76 cm) long and weighing 3–5 pounds (1.4–2.3 kg). The adult male has multicoloured plumage throughout, while the female, as in other landfowl, is more subdued in colour. Notable features in the male include a long, metallic green crest, coppery feathers on the back and neck, and a prominent white rump that is most visible when the bird is in flight. The male's tail feathers are uniformly rufous, darkening towards the tips, whereas the female's lower tail coverts are white, barred with black and red.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
When to see it
Peak activity in April · a passage migrant species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Chinese MonalLophophorus lhuysiiThis 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.
Sclater's MonalLophophorus sclateriSclater's monal is a large, approximately 68 centimetres (27 in) long, monal pheasant.
Learn the Himalayan Monal for real
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