Himalayan Monal Pheasant
( Lophophorus impeyanus )
The Himalayan or Impeyan Monal is the only Monal pheasant regularly seen in captivity. There are another two species in the Lophophorus genus namely the Chinese Monal and the even rarer Sclaters Monal.
The Himalayan Monal is a large heavily built bird and yet it is very gentle and good natured. The plumage of mature males is spectacular. It consists mainly of metallic colours including blue, green, red and purple. He has a shimmering crest with the same metallic properties. He also has a short brown tail and a white patch on the rump. All of the front from the throat down is black. The Monal hen is predominantly brown as is often the case with females but she has a white throat and has, like the male, the most beautiful azure blue colouring around the eye.
Monals are very easy birds to care for as long as they have plenty of room. We use grassy aviaries measuring 432 square feet to accommodate them and even with this space we use a rotation system to keep them on grass. The reason for this is their love of digging. They find a great deal of their diet through their incessant digging. They use their very powerful beaks to dig up tubers, roots, insects and grubs etc. I'm pleased to say they have devoured a multitude of dockens in their aviaries. Aswell as all the roots they love so much they also look for their daily treat of peanuts and mealworms.
The breeding season for these birds starts rather late in April. The birds become sexually mature in their second year with the hen laying anything from 8 - 20 eggs in the season. The incubation period is usually 28 days.
As their name suggests the birds are from the Himalayan mountains. Their range also includes Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan and Western China. As they are endemic to high altitudes they are very hardy birds. They do however enjoy some shade during the summer months.
Monals can give the occasional loud call but these are usually few and far between and as they are such wonderful, friendly birds I would forgive them anything. It would be difficult for anyone who loves pheasants to give the Himalayan Monal a miss.
Allandoo Pheasantry