Himalayan monal
A colorful landfowl native to the Himalayas, national bird of Nepal.
It is part of the family Phasianidae and is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe or danfe, and state bird of Uttarakhand, India, where it is known as a monal.
- 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 long and weighing 3–5 pounds. The adult male has multicoloured plumage throughout, while the female 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.
Reader's Guide
The Himalayan monal's native range extends from Afghanistan and Pakistan through the Himalayas in Nepal, India, southern Tibet and Bhutan. 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. 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. The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, the wife of the British chief justice of Bengal, Sir Elijah Impey.
Did You Know?
- The Himalayan monal is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe or danfe.
- The male has a long, metallic green crest and a prominent white rump visible in flight.
- The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, wife of British chief justice Sir Elijah Impey.
- The main threat to the species is poaching for its valuable crest, a symbol of authority.
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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