Himalayan Monal

Himalayan Monal Latest News

A study in Uttarakhand found that Himalayan monals exposed to roads, tourists and pilgrimage traffic use higher-frequency calls which are impacting this species’ calling behaviour.

About Himalayan Monal

• The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is also known as the Impeyan Monal or Danphe.
• They are among the larger birds in the Phasianidae family.
• It is the state bird of Uttarakhand.
• Appearance: It exhibits high sexual dimorphism—the males decked head to toe in multicoloured plumage and exhibiting a long green metallic crest, while the females have a pale blue eye patch, white throat, and a streaky brown body.
• Habitat
  • It occupies the upper temperate forests of conifer and oak with open grasslands.
  • It typically inhabits altitudes between 2,500 and 4,000 meters in Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP).
  • It is commonly sighted in Tirthan Valley especially during the spring and post-monsoon seasons.
• Distribution: It is found across the Himalayan mountains, including in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
• Behavior
  • It is a ground-dwelling bird, often seen digging through leaf litter or soft soil with its powerful beak in search of roots, tubers, seeds, insects, and grubs.
  • It exhibits a clear altitudinal migration, descending as low as 2,000m in winter.
  • However, it also shows tolerance to snow and has been observed digging through snowfall for roots, tubers and invertebrates.
• Threats: It faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and disturbance from tourism.
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Least Concern 
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:  Schedule I 

Source: IE

‹ ›