Sciencepic@National bird of Nepal – Danphe(HIMALAYAN MONAL)

Hello friends, Today i talk something about the National bird of nepal "DANPHE"

        MALE

   

FEMALE

   image credit-alin blon nepal

 The Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus), also known as the Impeyan monal, Impeyan Pheasant, is a bird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae. It is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as Danphe.

 Scientificclassification-Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Aves

Order:Galliformes

Family:Phasianidae

Subfamily:Phasianinae

Genus:Lophophorus

Species:L. impejanus 

Traditionally, the Himalayan monal has been classified as monophyletic. However, studies have shown that the male Himalayan monal of northwestern India lacks the white rump of other Himalayan monals, and it has more green on the breast, indicating the possibility of a second subspecies.

The scientific name commemorates Lady Mary Impey, the wife of the British chief justice of Bengal Sir Elijah Impey. 

                                              DESCRIPTION
It is a relatively large-sized pheasant. The bird is about 70 centimeters long. 

The male weighs up to 2380 grams and the female 2150.

  HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE!!!!

 The adult male has multicoloured plumage throughout, while the female, as in other pheasants, is dull 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 tail feathers of the male are uniformly rufous, becoming darker towards the tips, whereas the lower tail coverts of females are white, barred with black and red.

 The female has a prominent white patch on the throat and a white strip on the tail. 

The first-year male and the juvenile resemble the female, but the first-year male is larger and the juvenile is less distinctly marked.

EGGS OF DANPHE (COLLECTED IN MUSEUM)

Eggs    -2 to 5Eggs,

 Egg are white or dirty white color eggs with brown and paler spots.

 Himalayan Monal bird              Specification

Scientific name                              Lophophorus impejanus

Other names                                   Impeyan monal, Impeyan pheasant

Length                                              70 centimeters 

lWeight                                           Male: 2380 grams

                                                               Female: 2150 grams

Lifespan                                         10-12 years

Sexual mature                              Between 12 to 24 month

Incubation period                       26 to 29 days

Breeding season                         April to August

Distribution                                 India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma,India: Himalayan,   

                                                             Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh

Habitat                                            Oak-conifer forests, open grassy slopes, cliffs and alpine meadows,

                                                            tolerates snow and digs

Food                                                   Seeds, Tubers, shoots, Berries, Terrestrial insects, Small larvae.

Sound                                              Shrill whistle 

 Sources: – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_monal