Animale
Himalayan monal
A mountain pheasant whose male has metallic plumage and whose bill digs for food.
Lingua dei contenuti
The male Himalayan monal’s metallic feathers combine blue, green and warmer shades. A crest stands on its head, while the tail is brown. The female is much more subdued, mainly brown. Despite their strikingly different appearance, both belong to the same species in the pheasant family.
Monals inhabit Asian mountain regions, from Afghanistan through the Himalayas to parts of Tibet and Myanmar. They use forests and areas above the tree line, moving to lower ground in winter. Much of the day is spent searching for food. A long, curved bill digs into the soil to uncover hidden meals. The bird can find food beneath snow as well.
Its diet includes seeds, tubers, shoots, berries and insects. During courtship, the male bobs its crest and fans its tail, combining movements with calls. The female makes a simple nest scrape beneath vegetation or on a slope. Newly hatched chicks have light brown down above and a paler underside. Their muted colours contrast with the adult male’s shine, displayed during courtship.
Per bambini
A male monal shines with colours like polished metal. It has a crest on its head and a brown tail. The female looks much quieter, with mostly brown feathers. Monals belong to the pheasant family.
They live in Asia’s mountains. In winter they move lower down, searching mainly near the ground for food. Their long, curved bill works like a small digging tool. They can uncover food even beneath snow. They eat seeds, tubers, shoots, berries and insects.
During courtship, the male shows its feathers, moves its crest and spreads its tail. The female makes a nest in a simple hollow beneath plants or on a slope. The chicks are brownish and do not yet have the adult male’s bright colours.
Domanda 1 di 2
How does a monal uncover food hidden in the ground?
- Posizione
- Galliform bird aviaries, areas 1-8.