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.
About Himalayan Monal:
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 is the state bird of
Appearance: 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.
Habitat:
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.
Distribution: It is found across the Himalayan mountains, including in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
Behaviour:
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.
Threats: It faces threats from habitat loss, hunting, and disturbance from tourism.
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