The Himalayan monal Lophophorus impejanus
Like many other Galliformes birds, the Himalayan monal has stunning colouration, though it applies only to the males, since females of this species are dull in colour, with overall dark brown feathers. The male has iridescent rainbow-like plumage and a long metallic green head-crest. These birds inhabit high latitudes of Central Asia. They are agile runners, able to walk skilfully in the mountainous terrains; they have strong legs and broad, short wings. While monals can fly, they prefer staying on land, similar to many Galliformes birds. The Himalayan monal has a long, curved bill, which enable the bird to dig into the hard soil while foraging. Monals are herbivorous, feeding mainly on seeds and shoots, but they may also eat insects. In the morning and toward the end of the day, Himalayan monals come out of the shrub thickets where they hide in the daytime to forage in the open areas on the mountain slopes. In summer, they may forage on higher altitudes, near the zone of eternal snow. These birds usually feed in groups consisting of the male and a number of females.
Monals’ nests are usually found on the ground, under cliff overhangs and shrubs or in the crevices between large stones. Most often, the nests are built in the dense thickets of rhododendron. The nest is a simple scrape lined with a small amount of leaves and dry grass. The female alone incubates eggs and later walks her chick; her protective colouration and caution help the brood to avoid predators. Colouration of the downy chicks is similar to that of the female; juvenile males acquire their bright plumage after their first moulting. Wild populations of these beautiful birds sharply declined in the XX century, though earlier the Himalayan monals were common in their range. Main threats to this species are presented by tree harvesting and extensive hunting. In India, the Himalaya monal is protected under the State Wildlife Act.
