Koklass pheasant

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Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) is a medium-sized gamebird found in high forests of the Himalayas and surrounding regions. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The koklass belongs to the pheasant family but is more closely related to grouse and turkeys. It is the only species in its genus, Pucrasia.

Description:
Males have silver-grey upperparts with a central black stripe on each feather, a black head, chestnut breast, and white patches on the sides of the neck. Females are pale brown. Both sexes have long tails with pale tips. Males weigh about 1.1–1.4 kg and are about 58–64 cm long; females weigh about 1.0–1.1 kg and measure about 18–22 cm.

Distribution:
Koklass pheasants live in high-altitude forests from Afghanistan to central Nepal, and into northeastern Tibet and northern/eastern China. There are nine recognized subspecies, with some in the Himalayas and others in China and Mongolia.

Behavior:
They are shy and usually stay under bushes, which makes them hard to spot. They can fly uphill and cover long distances. They are mostly monogamous and form pairs or small family groups all year. They nest on the ground and roost at night on trees or under rock overhangs. Their loud calls at dawn and in autumn help researchers estimate their numbers.

Diet:
For much of the year they eat plants, including pine nuts, pine shoots, bamboo shoots, and seeds. During warmer nesting periods, they eat many insects—especially ants—and may also eat catkins, pollen, and fruit.