Himalayan monal
A colorful landfowl native to the Himalayas, national bird of Nepal.
The Himalayan monal, also known as the Impeyan monal, is a large landfowl native to the forests and shrublands of the Himalayas. It lives at elevations between 2,100 and 4,500 meters. This bird belongs to the Phasianidae family and is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. In Nepal, it is the national bird, called the danphe or danfe, while in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, it is the state bird and simply known as the monal. Its scientific name, *Lophophorus impejanus*, honors Lady Mary Impey, the wife of Sir Elijah Impey, a British chief justice of Bengal.
Males measure 24 to 30 inches in length and weigh between 3 and 5 pounds. They display multicolored plumage, including a long, metallic green crest, coppery feathers on the back and neck, and a prominent white rump that stands out in flight. Their tail feathers are uniformly rufous, darkening toward the tips. Females are more subdued in color, with a white throat patch and a white stripe on the tail. Their lower tail coverts are white, barred with black and red. First-year males and juveniles resemble the female, though first-year males are larger and juveniles have less distinct markings.
The species ranges from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas in Nepal, India, southern Tibet, and Bhutan. In Pakistan, it is common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley, and Azad Kashmir. In India, it appears throughout the Indian Himalayan Region, from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. It inhabits upper temperate oak-conifer forests with open grassy slopes, cliffs, and alpine meadows, most often between 2,700 and 3,700 meters. It descends to 2,000 meters in winter and can tolerate snow, digging through it to find roots and invertebrates.
The monal’s diet mainly consists of tubers, nuts, tender leaves, shoots, insects, and other invertebrates. It digs through snow for shoots and invertebrates, with plant matter forming the bulk of its food and invertebrates making up a smaller portion.
Poaching and human disturbance threaten the Himalayan monal in some areas. In the western Himalayas, hydroelectric development has negatively affected its population. The crest is particularly valuable, seen as a symbol of authority and status for its wearer. In Pakistan, the bird is not considered endangered and is easily located. In certain areas, population density can reach five pairs per square mile.
- Scientific name
- Lophophorus impejanus
- Family
- Phasianidae
- Length
- 24–30 in (61–76 cm)
- Weight
- 3–5 pounds (1.4–2.3 kg)
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN)
- National bird of
- Nepal
Lore & Background
The Himalayan monal 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. The female has a prominent white patch on the throat and a white stripe on the tail. The first-year male and the juvenile resemble the female, but the first-year male is larger and the juvenile is less distinctly marked.
Reader's Guide
The Himalayan monal's native range extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas in Nepal, India, southern Tibet and Bhutan. In Pakistan, it is common in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and has also been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley and Azad Kashmir. In India, it has been recorded throughout the Indian Himalayan Region from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. It lives in upper temperate oak-conifer forests interspersed with open grassy slopes, cliffs and alpine meadows between 2,400 and 4,500 m (7,900 and 14,800 ft), where it is most common between 2,700 and 3,700 m (8,900 and 12,100 ft). It descends to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in the winter. It tolerates snow and digs through it to obtain plant roots and invertebrate prey. Its diet consists primarily of tubers, nuts, tender leaves, shoots, insects and other invertebrates. In some areas, the Himalayan monal is threatened due to poaching and other anthropogenic factors. In the western Himalayas, the population responded negatively to human disturbance involving hydroelectric power development. It is not considered endangered in Pakistan and can be easily located. In some areas, the population density of the species is as high as five pairs per square mile. The main threat to the species is poaching, as the crest is valuable. It is thought to bring status to its wearer and is a symbol of authority.
Did You Know?
- The Himalayan monal is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe or danfe.
- It is also the state bird of Uttarakhand, India, where it is known as a monal.
- The scientific name Lophophorus impejanus commemorates Lady Mary Impey, wife of British chief justice Sir Elijah Impey.
- The male's prominent white rump is most visible when the bird is in flight.
- In some areas, the population density of the species is as high as five pairs per square mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Himalayan monal?
The Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is a large, vividly colored landfowl belonging to the pheasant family, found exclusively in the high mountain forests of the Himalayan region. It goes by several names, including Impeyan monal, danphe, and danfe, depending on where you are.
What is Himalayan monal's role?
This bird holds the distinction of being Nepal's official national bird, making it a symbol of the country's natural heritage. It also serves as the state bird of Uttarakhand in India, where locals simply call it a monal.
What are Himalayan monal's physical stats?
Adults measure about 61 to 76 centimeters in length and weigh somewhere between 1.4 and 2.3 kilograms. That makes it one of the larger members of the pheasant family.
What is Himalayan monal's conservation status?
The IUCN currently lists the species as Least Concern, meaning its population is stable enough that it is not at immediate risk of decline. Its wide mountain range and relatively intact forest habitat help keep it secure for now.
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