The breeding season for these birds starts early to mid April. As well as all the roots they love so much they also look for their peanut and seed treats. I'm pleased to say they have devoured a multitude of dockens in their aviaries. They use their very powerful beaks to dig up tubers, roots, insects and grubs etc. They find a great deal of their diet through their incessant digging. The reason for this is their love of digging.
![himalyan monal himalyan monal](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hc3y4P3a4L4/maxresdefault.jpg)
We use grassy aviaries measuring 432 square feet to accommodate them and even with this space we use a rotation system to keep them on grass. Monals are very easy birds to care for as long as they have plenty of room. The Monal hen is predominantly brown as is often the case with females but she has a white throat and has, like the male, the most beautiful azure blue colouring around the eye. All of the front from the throat down is black.
HIMALYAN MONAL PATCH
He also has a short bright tan brown tail and a white patch on the rump. He has a shimmering crest with the same metallic properties. It consists mainly of metallic colours including blue, green, red and purple. The Himalayan Monal is a large heavily built bird, the male of which has spectacular plumage.
![himalyan monal himalyan monal](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/8a/49/eb8a49d92329dd1beaa0199659cc0aa3.jpg)
They are also indigenous to areas in Eastern Afghanistan, Pakistan and further east to Tibet, Bhutan and Myanmar. Their range is widespread and not confined only to the Himalayas. The Himalayan Monal is the national bird of Nepal and as the name suggests inhabits the Himalayan Mountains at high altitudes which can be anything from around 2000m to over 4000m. There are another two species in the Lophophorus genus, namely the Chinese Monal and the even rarer Sclaters Monal. The Himalayan or Impeyan Monal is the only Monal pheasant regularly seen in captivity. Himalayan Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impeyanus)