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| Himalayan Monal |
Himalayan Monal 34 Interesting Facts About Beautiful Bird
The Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal and is also known as Danfe. While searching, the Himalayan monal digs up to 25 cm into the ground with its beak and makes several dug out areas in its territory.
The Himalayan monal is also known as the Impayan monal or Impayan pheasant. It belongs to the class, order, family, genus of Aves, Galliformes, Phasianidae and Lophophores. This species gets its scientific name from Lady Impe.
Himalayan Monal is one of the pheasant species and these pheasants are native to the Himalayas in India. Let's take a look at the interesting facts and life of these birds and start this article,
1. The native range of the Himalayan monal extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas into India, Nepal, southern Tibet and Bhutan.
2. In Pakistan these birds are most common in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and have also been recorded in Kaghan, Palas Valley. They live in forests surrounded by open grassy slopes, rocks and grasslands.
3. This bird is the state bird of Uttarakhand, India. The Himalayan Monal is known as the national bird of Nepal. It is frequently mentioned in Nepali songs and the Himalayan Monal is also the state bird of Uttarakhand, India.
4. The scientific name of Himalayan Monal is Lophophorus impejanus. The largest bird of Nepal is the Himalayan Monal Pheasant. It is not only the largest bird of Nepal, but it is also the national bird of Nepal. Monal is known as Danfe in Nepal.
5. Himalayan monals are social birds often seen in pairs or small groups. In winter these birds usually gather in large creeks and roost communally.
6. The birds are active during the day and spend most of their time foraging. Monals are very good diggers, using their curved beaks to dig underground.
7. Himalayan monal birds also tolerate snow and dig to obtain plant roots and invertebrate prey. Himalayan mongooses are very communicative and use a wide range of vocalizations when showing aggression or trying to attract a mate.
8. Himalayan monal distribution and habitat are in mountainous areas. This species is found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Himalayas in India, Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan at an altitude of 2400-4500 meters above sea level.
9. The Himalayan monal lives in the treetops in forests and bushes. Their habitat usually also includes open grassy slopes and grasslands. These birds are adapted to survive in very cold climates.
10. But their chicks need warmth to survive. The birds are known to stay at an altitude of 2000 meters during the winter season. Read - 41 Interesting Facts About Northern Cardinal With Pictures
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| Himalayan Monal |
11 To 20 interesting Facts About Himalayan Monal
11. The Himalayan Monal has been chosen as the mascot for the 38th National Games to be held in Uttarakhand in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in 2018 and is known as Monal.
12. Males and females of the Himalayan Monal species look quite different from each other. Male birds have colorful feathers. The feathers of the male bird are blue, green, purple, red and orange.
13. The female bird, on the other hand, lacks the green, purple and blue feathers and has only brown, black and white feathers. The throat of the male bird is black and the throat of the female bird has a white spot.
14. The tail of the male bird is orange. The female bird has mostly brown feathers with black and white stripes down the middle. The male bird has a crest on its head. This crest has small wings. Both male and female Himalayan monal birds have blue circles of skin around their eyes.
15. Some people say that the skin around the eyes is not blue but turquoise. Himalayan monal chicks look exactly like the female bird until they are one year old, with overall brown feathers.
16. Himalayan monals are very cute birds. The feathers of the male bird are colorful like green, purple, orange and look much better than the female bird.
17. The Himalayan monal is also known as danfe or entitled and their diet consists of insects. Their diet also includes seeds, tubers, roots and berries.
18. During the autumn season, the Himalayan Monal eats insects and caterpillars which it finds under rotten leaves. At other times these birds eat roots, leaves, shoots of bushes and grass, fruits, seeds, berries etc.
19. Himalayan Monal is found in wheat or paddy fields during the winter season, but not to eat the grains but for the roots and caterpillars which it digs out with its feet.
20. Himalayan monals are birds of average height. Their wingspan is up to 33.5 inches. Their length is greater than their height. A Himalayan Monal measures 24-36 inches in length including its tail. Read - Top 29 Interesting Facts About the Splendid Fairy Wren
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| Himalayan Monal |
21 To 34 interesting Facts About Himalayan Monal
21. Himalayan monals are at least 10 times larger than a small crow. These birds are of relatively large size. A male Himalayan Monal weighs approximately 2.38 kg.
22. Whereas the weight of the female bird is about 2.2 kg. This is an average weight for birds of their size although their chicks may weigh less.
23. Himalayan monals are very vocal birds. These birds use several calls to communicate with other Himalayan monals around them.
24. In addition to voice they especially use gestures to influence their peers. Male birds shake their crest and flap their wings to show off their beauty to the female bird. The flight speed for the Himalayan Monal has not yet been determined.
25. Himalayan Monal The breeding season of this species of bird starts in April and continues till June. During the breeding season, male birds make contact calls throughout the day to attract the attention of female birds.
26. They also move their tail feathers to impress female birds during the mating season. Once the female has chosen her partner, mating begins immediately.
27. After breeding, female birds make nests on sloping ground to lay eggs. And the female bird lays 3-5 eggs. During this time the male bird always stays near the nest for protection. Male birds do not help raise the chicks and the incubation period for Himalayan monal eggs is 28 days.
28. The chicks are fully developed with their eyes open and are able to eat on their own at 3 months of age and after 6 months the chicks are completely independent. The chicks are ready to seek out their own territories and mates.
29. The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide numbers for the total population size of the Himalayan monal. Currently this species is classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List but today the numbers of these birds are declining.
30. These birds are threatened in almost some areas due to illegal hunting and other anthropogenic activities. Local monal populations in the western Himalayas suffer from human disturbance associated with hydroelectric development.
31. These beautiful birds are also hunted for food and the male monals are hunted for their feathers, which are used for decoration.
32. A Himalayan monal can live for about 10-12 years. These birds have a longer life compared to other birds.
33. The Himalayan monal is not dangerous to humans in any way. These birds mind their own business and do not become aggressive towards humans unless provoked.
34. A Himalayan Monal is found in the mountainous regions along with the surrounding people. Therefore these birds are wild animals and hence these birds are not suitable to be pets.
Himalayan Monal Facts For Kids
1. Where does the Himalayan monal live?
The native range of the Himalayan monals extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas into India, Nepal, southern Tibet and Bhutan.
2. What does the Himalayan monal eat?
The Himalayan monal is also known as danfe or entitled and their diet consists of insects. Their diet also includes seeds, tubers, roots and berries.
3. Which is the national bird of Nepal?
The Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal and where it is also known as Danfe.
4. What is special in Himalayan Monal?
The Himalayan Monal male bird is also called the nine-coloured bird due to the rainbow colored feathers on its neck and wings. When these birds fly, their back appears white and lower part appears black and a big white spot appears on their tail.
5. How many Himalayan Monal are there?
The IUCN Red List and other sources do not provide numbers for the total population size of the Himalayan monal. Currently this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) in the IUCN Red List but today the numbers of these birds are declining.
6. By what name is Himalayan Monal also known?
Himalayan monal is also known as impayen monal and impayen pheasant. This bird is a pheasant native to the forests and bushes of the Himalayas.
7. What are the threats to the Himalayan Monal?
These birds are threatened by poaching and other anthropogenic threats. Local monal populations in the western Himalayas suffer from human disturbance associated with hydroelectric development. These beautiful birds are also hunted for food and the male monals are hunted for their feathers, which are used for decoration.
8. How big are the Himalayan monals?
Himalayan monals are birds of average height. Their wingspan is up to 33.5 inches. Their length is greater than their height. A Himalayan Monal measures 24-36 inches in length including its tail.
9. What is Himalayan Monal called in Nepal?
The Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal and where it is also known as Danfe. While searching for Himalayan Monal, these birds dig up to 25 cm in the ground with their beaks and make several dug areas in their territory.
10. How long do Himalayan monals live?
A Himalayan monal can live for about 10-12 years. These birds have a longer life compared to other birds.