Kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)

On my way down from an amazing sunrise near the Dochula Pass I encountered this gorgeous male kalij pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos) strolling leisurely with his mate which was blending in perfectly with the landscape.

This is one of several amazing species of pheasants roaming the Himalayas and they are like birds from a fairy tale.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and when it comes to the pheasants humans have a very long history of capturing their beauty in art, as well as keeping them on their property, and now in zoos and parks far away from their home. Fortunately this species is not threatened yet, and hopefully it will stay that way.

I don’t know if the shape of the red and velvety patch plays any crucial part in the female’s selection process, but to many a human this is a lovely variation of the shape of a heart.

It sounds like this:

Altitude: 2785 meters

Last updated on 8 November 2024