Details
Lophophorus impejanus
A large, brilliant pheasant of Himalayan highland forests; males shine with metallic rainbow plumage and a green crest.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Uses Himalayan conifer, mixed, and rhododendron forests, plus edges of alpine meadows, moving by elevation seasonally.
Males glow green, blue, and copper with a pale back and long crest. Females are brown and finely marked for camouflage.
It digs in soil for food and descends to lower elevations in winter. Males appear in open areas during breeding.
Roots, bulbs, shoots, seeds, insects, and larvae are eaten, often uncovered by strong digging.
Ground nests are placed on slopes or among rocks. Females incubate, and chicks follow soon after hatching.
A protected flagship bird in parts of its range, it faces concern from hunting, forest use, and local declines.
