Western tragopan Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Western tragopan

Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
CITES Appendix I (CITES)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Tragopan
Species:	melanocephalus

The western tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) is a beautiful, medium-sized pheasant. It is also known as the western horned tragopan. These birds live in the Himalayas, from northern Pakistan to Uttarakhand in India. This species is very rare and is globally threatened.

What They Look Like
Where Western Tragopans Live
Their Home and What They Eat
- Mating Display and Sounds
How Rare They Are
Images for kids
See also

What They Look Like

The male western tragopan is mostly dark grey and black. It has many white spots, each with a black border. You can see bright crimson patches on the sides and back of its neck. Its throat has bare blue skin, and its face has bare red skin. Males also have a small black crest of feathers on the back of their head.

Female tragopans look different. Their upper body is pale brownish-grey. It has fine black lines and spots. Most of their feathers have black patches and white stripes in the middle. Young males look like females at first. However, they are larger and have longer legs. They also have some black on their head and red on their neck.

Male tragopans weigh about 1.8 to 2.2 kilograms (4 to 4.9 pounds). Females are lighter, weighing 1.25 to 1.4 kilograms (2.8 to 3.1 pounds). Males are longer, measuring 55 to 60 centimeters (22 to 24 inches). Females are a bit shorter, at 48 to 50 centimeters (19 to 20 inches).

Where Western Tragopans Live

Western tragopans live in different areas of the Himalayas. Five main groups are known. They are found in Kohistan and Kaghan valley in Pakistan. In India, they live in Kishtwar, Chamba, and Kullu districts. They are also found east of the Satluj river in India.

These birds live at high altitudes, from about 1,750 to 3,600 meters (5,740 to 11,800 feet). They go even higher in the summer months. They prefer to live in dense forests. These forests have many trees and thick bushes on the ground.

Their Home and What They Eat

Western tragopans live in cool, high-altitude forests. In summer, they are found between 2,400 and 3,600 meters (7,900 and 11,800 feet). In winter, they move to slightly lower areas. They prefer dense forests with conifer trees and broad-leaved trees, between 2,000 and 2,800 meters (6,600 and 9,200 feet).

These birds spend most of their time in trees. However, they come down to the ground to find food. They mostly eat leaves, young shoots, and seeds. They also eat insects and other small creatures without backbones. Like most pheasants, they sleep in trees. They usually roost alone or in pairs, except when they are nesting.

Mating Display and Sounds

During their mating display, male tragopans show off their bright colors. They inflate the skin on their throat, making it look purple with pink edges. They also show two blue "horns" above their eyes. These horns look a bit like the horns of the Greek god Pan, which is how they got the name tragopan.

While displaying, they make a loud, ringing sound. It sounds like "wou-weee" and is repeated often. The breeding season for western tragopans is in May and June. They build their nests in hollows found in low trees.

These birds are sensitive to human activities. They avoid places where people have disturbed their habitat. This includes areas where new buildings or projects are being built.

How Rare They Are

The western tragopan is thought to be the rarest of all living pheasants. It lives in a very small area. In the Kashmir valley, people call it daangeer. In Chamba, it is known as phulgar. In the Kullu valley, it is called jujurana, which means "king of birds." In 2007, it became the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.

The number of western tragopans is decreasing. This is due to several human activities across their habitat. Experts believe there are fewer than 5,000 of these birds left in the world. This includes a small group raised in captivity in Himachal Pradesh. In 2012, this group had fewer than ten pairs.

The CITES agreement has listed this species in Appendix I. This means it is highly protected to stop people from selling its feathers. The western tragopan is a special bird that only lives in the Western Himalayas.