Fact Of Nepal's National Bird

DANPHE(LOPHOPHORUS)

NEPAL’S NATIONAL BIRD

Nature, which is often lavish in the coloring of her creations, has, in the case of the Impeyan pheasant, surpassed herself. Nine different hues paint the gorgeous coats of this favoured bird, and althiogh some people might consider the peacock to be more magnificent because of its splendid tail, it is in fact not as colourful overall as the Impeyan pheasnt . It’s easy to see why this pheasant was chosen as Nepal’s national bird.

Like most bids it is the male Danphe, as the pheasant is called locally, that has been given the richly coloured plumage. The hens are comparatively plain by comparison. Danphe are of a shy and retiring nature and are not over-eager to display their plumage to human eyes.

This timidity makes them rather difficult to photograph and is possibly due to the fact that they make for good eating-in the past they were vigourously hunted. Now,fortunately,they are on the list of protected species, and hunting the Impeyan pheasant is strictily forbidden.

The Danphe(Lophophorus inpejanus) is large bird, though rather dunpy with short, squarecut and broad tail. The male has a brilliant green head, and his eyes are circled with blue. His back I purplish-black with a distintive white patch on the rump. Wings are blue-black, with a touch of yellow at the top to give an attractive transition to the rich reddish band around the neck.

The breast is dark brown to velvety nlack, and the tail is a light tan color. To complete the splendid effect he wears on his a crest of metallic green, wire like feathers with spon shaped tips. Surely a sight to gladden the heart of his future mate.

The hen has an overall dark brown coloring, with pale white throat and a white patch on her rump. Her only bright colors are the circles of blue around her eyes. Even her crest is of ordinary feathers and is quite short.

These pheasants live only at high altitudes, usually above the line at around 4,000 meters. They are quite common on the grassy alpine slopes from spring to atumn, but in the winter they descend into the forests for shelter. Like most members of their group, which includes partidges and quails, they have well developed legs and strong beaks for snatching the ground and digging for food. Tubers of some alpine plants are their speciality.

From a distance the colors of a male Danphe are rather lost, and it has an overall dark appearance with only the tan colored tail and white rump to distinguish it.

Although not easy to see impeyan peasant sometimes honors to Tengboche monastery (near MT. EVEREST) with glimpse of its beautiful plumage: the pheasants wander about the fields in summer. As Bird in Nepal points out, “a dozen male birds digging in the early morning sunlight is an unforgettable sight.” And if that sight is against the backdrop of snow covered Everest? That would be something yo remember forever-a wonderful sight & memory in Nepal of Nepal.