What is the Himalayan monal?
Q: What is the Himalayan monal?
A: The Himalayan monal is a bird in the pheasant family, Phasianidae.
Q: Who discovered the Himalayan monal and what did he write about it?
A: The Himalayan monal was discovered by Latham, who wrote in his General History of Birds (1821) that the monal inhabits India, but is not common and is brought from the hills in the northern parts of Hindustan to Calcutta as a rarity.
Q: Why did the attempt to bring some Himalayan monals to England fail?
A: Lady Impey attempted to bring some Himalayan monals to England, but after living on board for two months, they caught a disorder from the other poultry and died.
Q: Is the Himalayan monal the national bird of Nepal?
A: Yes, the Himalayan monal is the national bird of Nepal, where it is known as the danphe (or Danfe), and is mentioned frequently in Nepali songs.
Q: What is the significance of the Himalayan monal in Uttarakhand, India?
A: The Himalayan monal is the state bird of Uttarakhand, India.
Q: In which region is the Himalayan monal considered as the state/regional bird?
A: In Kashmir, the Himalayan monal is the state/regional bird of the disputed territory.
Q: Is the Himalayan monal considered a common bird in India?
A: No, the Himalayan monal is not considered a common bird in India.
