Bengali: হিমালয়ের মোনাল
Scientific Name: Lophophorus impejanus
IUCN: Least Concern
Description: It is a relatively large-sized pheasant. The adult male has multicolored plumage throughout, while the female, as in other pheasants, is dull in color. The male has a long distinctive metallic green crest, blue rump, coppery feathers on the back and neck, and a prominent white lower back that is most visible when the bird is in flight. The entire tail feathers of the male are cinnamon-rufous. The female has dark rump white upper-tail coverts, strongly demarcated white chin and throat pale streaking on under parts.
Food: They feed on various insects, seeds, tubers, roots, and berries.
Habitat: During the summer season, inhabiting open, grassy slopes. During winter, this bird moves towards lower level forests taking shelter in dense areas of bamboo and rhododendrons. (2500-5000ft)
Distribution: The Himalayan monal's native range extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas in India, Nepal, southern Tibet, and Bhutan.
