Photo StoryPublished : Aug 17, 2023Updated : May 24, 2024
Dazzled by encounters with the regal cheer, Himalayan monal, koklass pheasant, and kalij pheasants on a trip to Uttarakhand
Text by: Samuel John
Dazzled by encounters with the regal cheer, Himalayan monal, koklass pheasant, and kalij pheasants on a trip to Uttarakhand
The quiet scuttle of nervous quails and francolins fill our scrublands with the sight of small fluffy objects moving between bushes. The shrill morning calls of the proud Indian peacock rise from our forests. India is home to 44 species of birds from the Phasianidae family, including pheasants, partridges, peafowls, jungle fowls, tragopans, and quails — birds of myriad sizes and colours. These remarkable birds live everywhere, from the arid deserts of Rajasthan to the dense jungles of the Western Ghats and the snowy reaches of the Himalayas.
Across these diverse habitats, the omnivorous family can be seen industriously pecking away at the ground. Birds from the Phasianidae family belong to the larger group of land fowls (order: Galliformes), ground-dwelling birds that typically fly only when they are alarmed. This family generally displays sexual dimorphism (difference in physical appearance of males and females). Females are coloured in muted patterns that allow them to blend in with their terrestrial habitats. This is particularly helpful when the female is incubating eggs or raising chicks. The males, however, typically carry striking colours and features that allow them to stand out from the surroundings and attract a mate.
Uttarakhand is a mosaic of gorgeous high-altitude habitats ranging from snowy Himalayan mountains in the north to lush forests and grasslands. The northern state is home to over ten species from the Phasianidae family. During my time in Uttarakhand, I had the pleasure of meeting four of these fantastic pheasants. The regal cheer pheasant inhabits steep grassy slopes dotted with rhododendron, bamboo, and chir pine at altitudes as high as 3,500 m. The dazzling Himalayan monal lives amid rocky boulders, grasses growing on steep mountainsides and rhododendron forests. When seen at a distance on snowy patches, it looks like a ball of brilliant blue-green painted on a white canvas. The koklass pheasant, another high-altitude dweller, pecks around pine and mixed forests between 3,000 and 4,000 m, coming down to 1,600 m in the winter. And, finally, the kalij (or kaleej), which occupies high altitude forests of rhododendron, spruce, and sal, but is also found in the terai and bhabar regions at lower altitudes. In Bangladesh, it has been reported as low as 25 m. Each of these fascinating pheasants has an equally intriguing life story.
The cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii) is endemic (only found here) to the western Himalayas, ranging from northeast Pakistan to west-central Nepal. Their name comes from their regular presence around chir pine forests. From a distance, both the male and the female look quite similar — their mottled patterns of brown, black, and grey, with hints of white. Both sexes also possess a beautiful feathery crest that flows from the backs of their heads. (1) The male cheer is typically much larger than the female (in the foreground) and has a distinct long tail. The base of the male’s long tail is coloured with a brilliant shade of gold. (2) Males also have crimson-red patches around their eyes. This eye makeup is considerably more subtle in the female, tending towards a discreet brown. Despite their attractive golden bottoms and fancy eye makeup, males have very practical modes of cajoling a potential mate. Photos: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Cover photo: The vibrantly coloured white-crested kalij pheasant finds a high perch to perform its courtship display. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee
The Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus) is a magnificent bird found in the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. Unlike the subtle sexual dimorphism of the cheer pheasant, the male and female monal are on opposite ends of a flamboyance scale. The male is an iridescent metallic medley of green, blue, copper, and gold. His metallic green crest and fiery copper tail come out in full display during the male’s elaborate courtship display. During courtship, the erect crest wiggles like a shiny crown of feathers and the tail fans out and moves rhythmically to impress a potential mate. In contrast, the female has a more mellow appearance, comprising shades of brown and grey, which aid in camouflaging her against the forest floor — particularly useful when she is incubating her eggs. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Monals are often found in mixed forests on steep valleys. Between March and April, the hills of Uttarakhand are vibrant with blooming rhododendrons. The surreal landscape of golden grasses dotted with bright pink and red is home to the colourful monal and other incredible animals like the Himalayan tahr. While the Himalayan monal’s conservation status is currently of “Least Concern”, widespread habitat loss and degradation have driven other inhabitants of the region like the tahr over the line to a “Near Threatened” status. Unchecked, this habitat loss will soon threaten the Himalayan monal, Uttarakhand’s state bird as well. Photos: Dhritiman Mukherjee
The koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) occurs in a wide geographic range from the western Himalayas to parts of Central Asia. In Uttarakhand, the prevalent koklass subspecies is P. macrolopha macrolopha. This medium-sized pheasant also exhibits sexual dimorphism. Males are larger and more vibrant with a reddish-chestnut neck, and feathery streaks of black-and-white generously covering the rest of their body. Their most fascinating feature is a conspicuously dark and shiny head with a prominent crest of black feathers that make it look like the lead vocalist of an early 90s rock band. Overall, these birds look like they have the head of a raptor, the black baza (Aviceda leuphotes), and the body of a turkey. They are one of the few members of the Galliformes order that can sustain flight for several kilometres. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Typically, they give out a territorial call at dawn that consists of harsh notes of “kra” repeated 4-5 times. During the breeding months (November to June), morning calls to attract a mate can last up to 50 minutes. Koklass pheasants are thought to be monogamous because they are often seen foraging in pairs, but more evidence is needed to scientifically confirm this. Adhering to evolution’s “camouflage the female pheasant plan”, female koklass pheasants are smaller, coloured in muted browns, and have a modest crest. Photo: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Kalij pheasants (Lophura leucomelanos), the most widely distributed species on this list, are native to South and Southeast Asia. Besides India, they are found in Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Thailand. The species was introduced in Hawaii as a game bird in the 1960s and quickly spread over forested areas in the following two decades. There are nine subspecies of kalij pheasants known worldwide. Uttarakhand is home to one of these subspecies, the white-crested kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos hamiltoni). (1) The males of this species are easily distinguished by the wiry white crest that flows from their heads. Males are an ultra-stylish mix of a deep shimmering blue and silver. The iridescent blue on their bodies almost appears black in low light. Males puff up their chest feathers and flap half-open wings to attract a female. (2) Females are covered with beautiful, mottled patterns created from a spectrum of browns. Both males and females have a distinct patch of red around the eyes. Living in diverse habitats, their diets cover everything from roots and tubers to termites and small snakes. These omnivores also feed on fruits, seeds, and seed pods. Photos: Soumabrata Moulick
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