A pheasant of high Asian mountain forests whose male and female plumages differ markedly; it digs for food with its bill.
Males have mixed blue, red, gold, and yellow plumage, an upright crest, and a brown tail. Females are smaller, brown, and lack the crest.
Himalayan Monals inhabit mountain landscapes combining forests, grassland, low shrubs and rocky slopes. Nepal’s national bird uses this varied terrain, and seasonal surveys have revealed changes in habitat selection within one mountain valley.
Researchers surveyed Langtang National Park in November–December 2022 and June 2023, with 84 hours of effort in each season. Relative to the area available, monals selected grassland in winter and shrubland and barren ground in summer. The comparison incorporated habitat availability alongside bird observations.
Summer records extended to 4,400 metres. Birds were frequent at 3,100–3,300 metres in winter, whereas summer observations were concentrated at higher elevations, including 3,500–3,900 metres. These seasonal patterns connect grasslands and shrubs at different heights within the valley’s mountain habitat.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Interviews with local residents and hospitality personnel identified poaching and free-ranging livestock grazing as threats in Langtang. The authors called for conserving seasonal habitats and managing human pressures. Retaining connected mountain habitats, including grasslands and shrubland, can support local conservation.