Sclater`s monal with a scientific name "Lophophorus sclateri", also known as the crestless monal, is a large, approximately 68 centimetres long. The name of this bird- Sclater`s monal, commemorates the British zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater. Sclater`s monal is a pheasant of the east Himalayan Mountain Region of India.
Gender of Sclater`s monal
As other monals, the male Sclater`s monal is a colourful bird. The crestless female is mostly a dark brown bird with a white throat and tail-tip, dull bluish orbital skin and a pale yellow bill.
Structure of Sclater`s monal
Sclater`s monal has a highly iridescent purplish-green upperparts plumage, short and curly metallic green crown feathers, copper neck, purplish-black throat, white back, blue orbital skin, yellowish-orange bill and brown iris. In the nominate subspecies, the tail is white with a broad chestnut band, while the tail is entirely white in L. S. arunachalensis from western Arunachal Pradesh in India.
Concentration of Sclater`s monal
Sclater`s monal is distributed to mountain forests of northeast India, southeast Tibet and northern Burma, at altitudes of 2,500 to 4,200 metres (8,200 to 13,800 ft).
Food of Sclater`s monal
The diet of Sclater`s monal is like that of other members of the genus Lophophorus, probably consisting mainly of tubers, roots, bulbs, arthropods, rodents, seeds and flowers.
Eggs of Sclater`s monal
The female Sclater`s monal usually lays between three to five eggs. It is not known if the Sclater`s monal male participates in nest defence, but it is likely.
Population of Sclater`s monal
Now due to ongoing habitat loss, small population size, limited range and over hunting in some areas for food and its feathers, Sclater`s monal is evaluated as Vulnerable on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
