Western tragopan

Western Tragopan
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Phasianidae
Subfamily:	Phasianinae
Genus:	Tragopan
Species:	T. melanocephalus
Binomial name
Tragopan melanocephalus Gray, 1829

The Western Tragopan or Western Horned Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) is a medium-sized brightly plumaged pheasant found along the Himalayas from Hazara in northern Pakistan in the west to Uttarakhand within India to the east. The species is highly endangered and globally threatened.

Identification

Illustration by D J Elliot

The male is very dark, grey and black with numerous white spots, each spot bordered with black and deep crimson patches on the sides and back of the neck. The throat is bare with blue skin while the bare facial skin is red. They have a small black occipital crest. Females have pale brownish-grey upper parts finely vermiculated and spotted with black, and most of the feathers have black patches and central white streaks. Immature males resemble females, but are larger in size with longer legs and variable amount of black on head and red on neck.

Males weigh 1,800–2,200 g and females 1,300–1,400 g. The males vary in length from 55–60 cm while the females are 48–50 cm.

Distribution

Five populations are known from Kohistan, Kaghan valley, Kishtwar, Chamba, Kullu and an area east of the Satluj river. They are found from an altitude of 1,750 m to 3,600 m, going up higher in summer. Their preferred habitat is the dense understorey of temperate, subalpine and broad-leaved forest.

Habits

It inhabits upper temperate forests between 2,400 and 3,600 m in summer, and in winter, dense coniferous and broad-leaved forests between 2,000 to 2,800 m elevations. The Western Tragopan is mostly arboreal but feeds on the ground. They feed mostly on leaves, shoots, seeds, but also consume insects and other invertebrates. Like most of the pheasants, they roost in trees singly or in pairs except during nesting.

The males during display show the throat inflated into lappets that appear purple with pink margins. They also display blue horns with a fancied resemblance to those of the Greek mythological god Pan, whence the name Tragopan (Tragos goat + Pan). During the display they call and the song is a loud two-note ringing wou-weee which is repeated every second for long periods. The breeding season is May–June. They build their nests in low tree hollows.

Status

The Western Tragopan is considered the rarest of all living pheasants. Their range is very restricted. In Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, this bird is locally called Jujurana which means King of Birds.

Population of C is threatened by several anthropogenic factors throughout its range. The world population is estimated at less than 5,000 individuals, including a captive population of less than five at the moment. CITES has listed this species in Appendix I in order to discourage selling of its feathers. Representing the endemic bird area D02 of Western Himalaya, the Western Tragopan has been described as a range-restricted species.

References

• Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable and the criteria used
• Rasmussen, P.C & Anderton, J. C. (2005) Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Smithsonian Institution and Lynx Edicions.

External links

• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• IUCN Red List
• Tragopanery The Valendries
• Home of Western Tragopan
• [1](Government of Himachal Pradesh )