Iridescent Multicoloured Himalayan Monal

About the Iridescent Multicoloured Himalayan Monal

This is the species in its full splendour: the cock carries a long, wiry metallic-green crest, a glossy purple-and-coppery neck, blue-green back and a startling white rump that flashes in flight, with rufous tail coverts — the interplay of green, copper, blue, purple and red earning it the "nine-coloured bird" name. Hens, by contrast, are cryptic streaked brown with a white throat and rump stripe. Prized but challenging ornamentals, monals are among the most iridescent of all pheasants.