Kalij Pheasant

Scientific Name: Lophura leucomelanos
Place: 


A large sized galliforme and most common across Himalayas till Karakoram range in west and extended distribution in north east Indian hillas of Khasi-Garo-Jayantia range. It is mainly a lower medium altitude dweller and an altitudinal migrant by 1,000 meters. From the foothills of Himalayas it's range is extended upto 8,000 ft altitudinally.

Broadly in the oriental region, Kalij Pheasant has 9 different subspecies; from which four types are found in India. These four subspecies are :

• L. l. hamiltonii (J. E. Gray, 1829) – W Himalayas from N Pakistan (R Indus) E to W Nepal.
• L. l. leucomelanos (Latham, 1790) – C & EC Nepal.
• L. l. melanota (T. Hutton, 1848) – extreme E Nepal (Mai Valley), N India (Sikkim) and W Bhutan (E to R Sankosh).
• L. l. lathami (J. E. Gray, 1829) – E Bhutan and E Bangladesh E to NE India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh), S China (extreme SE Tibet and NW Yunnan) and N Myanmar (probably E to R Irrawaddy).

Though at places in Corbett Tiger Reserve, sighting reports are there for L. l. leucomelanos; but till date I haven't seen any 'leucomelalos' from Corbett.


Lophura leucomelanos hamiltonii

During our birding tour of GoingWild in the month of February '15, I was accompanied by two birders. we had four full birding days in our hand. Though the bird tour started on 1st February, from 2nd February we went on for birding as Day 1.

On 3rd February '15, that is on last day, after bagging 137 specie in four days, we took a mid noon break near Mangoli village birding trail. After having some warm cup of tea, we sat on roadside parapet and started reviewing the outcomes of bird images. After ten minutes or so, all on a sudden we heard call of game birds. Firstly, we didn't notice much. But sudden rise and fall of call, drawn our attention - What is going on up there inside the bush.

Two male Kalij pheasants were fighting there; we kept our camera ready to photograph that and waiting until they come in open; but the fight went beneath the understory of bush. Suddenly, both the male came on road. Their chase and fight for one to another stopped, seeing the outside visitors (Us - Birders). Like Mughal prince (photographed one here), crossed the road and went downhill followed by a stream into the ditch; following him another male did the same. But we couldn't manage to photograph while they were in the action of cock fighting. Photographed below posted image is from Mangoli trail of Uttarakhand during our Ghatgarh - Sattal - pangot birding tour of February 2015.

Kalij Pheasant (♂) | L.l.hamiltonii | Mangoli, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2015 (CC BY-NC-SA)

Only hamiltoni subspecies amongst all Kalij Pheasants has white crest over its head. In hindi crest is called "Kalgi"; in abbreviated form, the name Kalij has been derived. Hope you enjoyed the sighting of Hamiltoni; now see below how the sighting of melanota happened in Sikkim.


Lophura leucomelanos melanota

We had an announced birding tour in Pangolakha in April from 22nd April to 26th April of 2015. Prior to that announced tour, I had a solo birding tour in the reserve for 10 days. After completion of that birding while I was descending from Upper Pangolakha I photographed this beauty downhill on 21st April.

In the early morning on 21st April, when I was getting down from Zuluk to Rongli, I was coming down by Nima's Bolero. Nima also known as "Nima daju", was very satisfied to have a birder accompanying him. Sometimes on the way down, he started spotting birds. This is how we were descending. Since previous 10 days of solo birding trip was tiring, around 8AM in the morning I leaned my back to the headrest and went to sleep. Suddenly Nima yelled "Kalij, sir Kalij". He stopped the car at a distance of 40 feet, so that I could make a frame. I were not after close up of this beauty, but were close enough since I was equipped with 400mm f5.6 telephoto lens. Keeping safe distance is mandatory to photograph pheasants. Once you break their confidence barrier, firstly you would be a loser and secondly, your appearance is a threat for the birdie. Keep safe distance always from wildlife.

Nima said, a flock of bird were there, but I could see just an Individual beside the parapet in an elevated land just at the eye level. I knew if I try to get down from the car, it would slip into the bushes, thus to avoid such mishaps; I took the photographed through car window as much as I could bend myself as much as possible from window and create frame. If I were a fool, I couldn't have done the framing. Forget framing, these skittish birds aren't comfortable with human beings around them. Thus if you ever see a Kalij or its cousin pheasants (Galliformes), try to photograph them through car window. They consider human beings as a threat for them, but cars are not a threat. Judge things wisely, while on a field trip, you can have it too. 

Kalij Pheasant (♂) | L.l.melanota | Zuluk, Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, Sikkim, India
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2015 (CC BY-NC-SA)

'melanota' differs from 'hamiltonii' not only by black crest coloration; rump of male bird of 'melanota' is of black color; whereas that of 'hamiltonii' has greyish-white rump.

Lophura leucomelanos lathami

I saw 'lathami' subspecies when I was in Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh, back in 2013. In the month of April, we had tour to Nameri National Park of Assam and to Pakke Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh in the month of April '13. After spending 3 days at Nameri we moved in Pakke by car. 

Kalij Pheasant (♂) | L.l.melanota | Kahari beat, Seijosa range, Pakke Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh, India

© Dibyendu Ash @ 2013 (CC BY-NC-SA)

During our 2nd birding day at Pakke, as we were roaming around Khari beat of Seijosa range, we saw a flock comprising of 2 adult males, 3 females and 3 more subadults. As soon as we spotted them, within split second, both adult males slipped into understories of dense forest of Pakke. By the time when we started clicking these three individuals were left for us; that also against light. Though this is not a good quality image, but still we managed some record of 'lathami'. Later, I almost forgot that I had ever photographed 'lathami' from Pakke, until I started writing up this blog.

Keep in touch bros and sissies! Cheers to all readers!

Himalayan Monal

Scientific Name: Lophophorus impejanus
Place:

• Chopta valley and Tungnath, Uttarakhand, India
• Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, Sikkim, India

Himalayan Monal, is a bird of Galliforme family, who doesn't require a definition of beauty amongst all pheasants all over the world. A dweller of high mountain ridges of Himalayas, found chiefly between 8,500 ft to 10,000 ft during winter months and above 10,000 ft in summers and falls. Two places in this entire earth planet where these (elusive and) illusive beauty can be seen are - Chopta - Tungnath area in Uttarakhand and Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary (along old silk route) in East Sikkim.

Now let us start with the sighting from Chopta. Chopta valley lies in Garhwal division of Uttarakhand, covered with Alpine steppe grassland, a perfect place to roost for this high altitude galliforme. During my trip to Chopta valley for birding in the month of June '13, we started our journey from Kaladhungi. After a full day drive from foothills, we reached at an altitude of 7,700 ft at Chopta. Spending the night inside tent, next morning we started our birding days. A birding day, not to be forgotten easily, unless the head is hammered by Thor's hammer.

Morning started with sighting of Grey-crested Tit and Red-billed Chough. It was dizzling sometimes for 10-15 minutes when dark monsoon clouds were passing by, otherwise day was sunny at this altitude (at 12,000 ft).

Exactly at 10:33 AM, from the Tungnath Temple (highest Lord Shiva Temple in the world) we spotted a male perched on top a boulder to the ridge opposite to us distanced by 500 meters. After spotting his majesty, myself (Dibyendu Ash) decided to trek uphill by ~600 meters with Shanker Singh (a mountaineer guide cum paratrooper trainer). When we asked others to join us, they said a big "NO" to us, seeing the wall of mountain in front.

Myself trekking uphill towards Chandrashila, Shanker Ji was ahead of me by 50 meters.
Photo courtesy: Tamanud Mitra (Link: Original post in Facebook)

This is me going uphill towards chandrashila. No trails or paved path was there, I just had to follow Shanker ji and we two managed to trek higher and higher until we reach to a fault line. Beyond which, it would be risky. On the way once for 10-15 minutes, I lost Shanker ji and became panic stricken. Panting badly-nervous-lost I cried out loud by his name, but it was eerie and silent. At some point of time I thought probably Shanker is dead, and I am in a death circle encompassing the same path.

That 10 minutes was like hell. Now you may laugh out loud. I saw a small backpack on a boulder and Shanker ji clicking Monals sitting beneath a overhang using that as his hide. Please stop laughing now readers. Though we saw three individual females and a male; we could manage females only to be photographed, male of the specie was there only for split second. The best female of the specie I ever took was from Chopta. After procuring memory card full of images, we took rest for few minutes. I went asleep soon touched by clouds on a huge boulder, since I was too tired. After waking up from nap of nearly one hour (didn't realise how time passed by quickly); I photographed a Lammergeier and an Olive-backed Pipit.

From the top I could see the stone-cobbled path leading towards temple. In the morning, which took 50 minutes for me to trek uphill, the same path I descended down within 10 minutes and joined the group again at a local tea stall by mid noon. It was time for us to have lunch.

After a warm cup of milk-tea and a bowl full of noodles, I started reviewing images of Monal. See the image, what I was reviewing at tea stall of Chopta.

Himalayan Monal (♀ - female) | Lophophorus impejanus | Tungnath, Chopta, Uttarakhand
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2013

Later by afternoon we photographed another flock of Monals, from which I managed to photograph male (♂) of the specie too.

Himalayan Monal (♂ male) | Lophophorus impejanus | Tungnath, Chopta, Uttarakhand
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2013

Above image from Chopta-Tungnath area is not my favourite image of male bird at all. The best photograph of male bird from my conducted birding tours was from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of Sikkim during the birding tour of May 2014. Everytime, we conduct tours to Pangolakha and I mentor the tour as a knowledge expert from GoingWild; participant birders or bird photographers were never been disappointed from the sighting and photographic opportunity of Monals and other birdlife. Let me share the story of Monals from Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary of East Sikkim.

Two birders from Orissa joined me on a short notice for one week, where I had arranged for the entire birding trip from GoingWild. The duration of this tour was six days and their target was Himalayan Monal. 

After spending two days at Lower Pangolakha we came to 9,700 ft for 2 days of stay at Zuluk. On third day morning ...... it happened, say cheese. Both of the bird photographers were extremely happy after seeing the Monals crossing the road, Monals on Parapet, Monals roosting of grassy slopes etc.

At first we took a distant record shot, when the specimen moved uphill we drove our car to the next hairpin bending and waited for 10 minutes until we got it at eye level. See the image below, which surely qualifies it to be the most handsome looking highland dweller in Himalayas. 

Himalayan Monal (♂ male) | Lophophorus impejanus | Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, Sikkim
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2014

Later that evening we celebrated the sighting with Ti-momo and vegetable-rice noodles!

Though male birds are easy to spot in the wild due to their metallic glossy blue plumage, it is hard to spot females of the species where vegetation is too thick. As I said, previously, Pangolakha WLS never disappoints me; myself along with other participants always see females as isolated individuals or in a group.

During our trip to Upper Pangolakha birding trip at Zuluk - Nathang valley in the month of May 2015, again we spotted female just like the previous tour in April 2015. In the month of April, we saw more of a record image, whereas this time in May, we saw female birdie in open and managed a better photograph. See the image below, you will get some idea.

Himalayan Monal (♀ - female) | Lophophorus impejanus | Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, Sikkim
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2014

• Do you know why male pheasants are more colorful than female individuals?
• Do you have any answer? 

You can leave the answer in comment section. We can discuss the matter.

Things you should know about Monals - 

1. They say it has nine colors, 
2. Himalayan Monal is the National Bird of Nepal.
3. It is the State Bird of Uttarakhand.
4. In nepali they call it "Danphe".
5. Kevin, a Himalayan Monal, was an animated bird character for the Hollywood movie Up (2009)

Hope you enjoyed this write up, stay tune fellow readers and birders! Have a nice day ahead!

Satyr Tragopan

Scientific Name: Tragopan satyra
Place: Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary, East Sikkim, Sikkim

“Mournful call of an elusive bird - Satyr Tragopan”

As promised in previous blog (writing of Hill Partridge), here is what I present to you readers.

Previous night (27th May 2015), I had a conversation with tour participant Manu regarding - the sighting of Satyr Tragopan, the mournful baby-cry call of it and how gorgeous looking the bird really is - over a pint of Honey-Bee.

On second day of May 2015 (i.e. 28th May) birding trip in Pangolakha WLS, when our search was on for beautiful Monals; suddenly we heard the call of satyr and searched for it alongside the slopes of zig-zag road. It was perched downhill on a parapet(on a abandoned landslide road) around 40 yards away from where tour participants stood. All the participants got some decent images of this rare beauty.

Hope you are enjoying reading this blog, but if you think you are wasting your valuable time going through for no good reason, close this tab.


In general bird nomenclature consist of after some ornithologists or the place it is/was found abundantly or the coloration of body parts; but the nomenclature of "Satyr Tragopan" has been derived from Greco-roman mythology - A drunken, lustful God who stays in deep woodland.

Hill Partridge

Scientific Name: Arborophila torqueola
Place: Near Ramakrishna Mission Ashram, Pangot, Uttarakhand, India

'One of the most elusive bird to see in wild!' - This is how the bird could be explained in one sentence. Mainly an altitudinal migrant like other Galliformes of Himalayas, which prefer to roost at lower altitudes ~ 5,000 to 7,000 ft in western Himalayas during winter months and ~8,000 to 10,000 ft during summer and falls.

Unlike other birds, it is not expected to be seen, but one can hear the call of Hill Partridge from miles away. At the same time I must say - 'when a birder is out for birding, he should not keep this specie in his expected bird list, unless it is God's gift.' I still remember my maiden day for sighting of the specie, in broad daylight, along with six more birding tour participants, for 2 seconds. Somehow I managed to get a record image of the birdie amongst all of them, though the windscreen of the vehicle. That is why the outcome is poor!

As usual birdlife was very rich during our October 2014 trip to Ghatgarh, Sattal and Pangot area. It was 3rd birding day, and all of us set out for Pangot in search of Cheer Pheasant. We were doing on the way birding, by taking pit stops at places, wherever flocks of birds were sighted. This is how, we were going uphill all the way from Ghatgarh(1,020 mtr) to Pangot(2,200 mtr). All on the sudden, as we were passing through a temperate broadleaf section of montane forest by car; a bird of Galliforme type appeared 50 odd feet away from us on road. It stood on road for 2 seconds and jumped into the ditch following a stream of water and vanished beneath the thickly foliaged bush. - This was the making of the this image! I hope someday some other birding group would see it too and achieve something which would definitely be a memory to cherish for them.

Hill Partridge (Arborophila torqueola) | Pangot, Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
© Dibyendu Ash @ 2014

Later that day, after reaching to Cheer Point, we searched for Cheer Pheasant but couldn't spot any of them. Like I said previously, what is expected to be seen may not be seen during birding; but the thing that is least expected can be spotted by God's grace. All the birders was overwhelmed to see this rare beauty in wild (for 2 guys it was a maiden birding trip, what a start for them!).

Since the day I was into birding or conducting birding trips, two birds that is needless to be mentioned, whose calls can be heard from kilometers away, are - Hill Partridge and Satyr Tragopan. In Sikkim Himalayas also I hear both of them, when I am out for Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary or Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary; but one need to have persistent luck for that.

Would post a blog write up about sighting of Satyr Tragopan too in near future. Stay tuned guys!!