Himalayan Monal : In 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.
- 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 exhibits high sexual dimorphism—the males are decked head to toe in multicoloured plumage and exhibit a long green metallic crest, while the females have a pale blue eye patch, white throat, and a streaky brown body.
- It occupies the upper temperate forests of conifers 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.
- It is found across the Himalayan mountains, including in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
- 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.
- It faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and disturbance from tourism.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
