Himalayan Monal Lophophorus impejanus

Himalayan Monal  Lophophorus impejanus
OTHER NAMES: Impeyan Monal, Himalayan Monal Pheasant
LOCAL NAMES: Daphey (Nepali), Baap (Bhutia), Baap-ja (Bhutneese),Fo-dong(Lepcha)
TAXONOMY:  Phasianus impejanus latham, 1790, India, Monotypic.
East of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Arunachal, South Tibet & Burma.
Status: Least Concern
FIELD CHARCTERS: Size: 63-72 cm: Male has a spatulate-tipped crest, shiny blue upperparts with bluish black under-parts, reddish orange on nape (hind neck) with green head and shiny green on mantel, rufous tail, chestnut wings and white rump noticeable in flight but not always distinct at rest. Female is a dull brown with white streaks, white throat, blue orbital skin and white crescent on upper tail-coverts.
VOICE/SONGS:  Song is “kleeh-wick.. kleeh-wick”. Vocal in dawn and dawn.
HABITAT AND BEHIVIOUR: Altitude: 3500–4500 m; Inhabits sub-alpine, alpine coniferous forests with rhododendron, silver fir, Abies densa and juniper, usually in steep valleys; also recorded in and around cultivation, meadows and clearings. Omnivorous, seeds, tubers, shoots, berries, insects and their larvae. The bird has a long distance gliding fight.

Camera Model: NIKON D750,Date: 24/02/2017, Shutter speed: 1/200 sec,Aperture: 7.1,Exposure mode: Manual,ISO: 500,Lens 600mm f/4

REMARKS : Just back from  a great Birding Photo tour in Bhutan from 18th Feb 2017 to 1st March 2017