Sclater's Monal

(Lophophorus sclateri)

• Avicultural Data
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• Bibliography
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Lophophorus sclateri Photo by John Corder

Other Names: Crestless Monal

Range: Southeast Tibet, Southwest China, Northeast Burma.

Subspecies: There is some debate and more research needed, but there are possibly two races recently described. L. s. sclateri and L s. orientalis.

Habitat: Rhododendron thickets and undergrowth to the alpine zone at altitudes of 11,000 to 12,000 feet.

Description: Unlike the other two Monal species, the Sclater's male has no obvious and much shorter crest. Slightly smaller than the Impeyan, the crown is bluish green, the sides of the neck are metallic reddish bronze; the facial skin is blue. The rest of the upper parts metallic green, blue and black. A most noticeable feature is the white back and rump that extends to a broad chestnut band on the tail which is tipped with white. orientalis males have a narrower tail band. Females are darker than other Monals and with no crest, tail tipped with white and shorter; overall brown with fine barring of dark brown and buff on breast.

Status in Wild: Not well known, listed as CITES Appendix I endangered species.

Avicultural Data

Status in Aviculture: Very rare, none believed to be kept outside of China. Paul Johnsgard reported in a recent issue of the Gazette, that six were being held at the Beijing Breeding Center for Breeding Endangered Animals. The photo provided with this sheet was taken at the center by John Corder.

Click on thumbnails for larger views.

(l to r):

Any help with photos would be greatly appreciated; e-mail lophura@hughes.net if you can help.

• Delacour, J. 1977. The Pheasants of the World. 2nd ed., World Pheasant Association and Spur Publications, Hindhead, U.K.
• Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T. 2000. Birds of Nepal. Christopher Helm, London; Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.
• Howman, K. 1991. Pheasants of the World: Their Breeding and Management. Hancock House Publishers, Surrey, B.C. Canada.
• Johnsgard, P.A. 1999. The Pheasants of the World: Biology and Natural History. 2nd ed., Smithsonian Press, Washington D.C.
• Madge, S., McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ.

Links related to Sclater's Monal. Please note, links will open in a new window.

• Species info - Lophophorus sclateri - From the BirdLife International's Red Data Book on Threatened Birds of Asia.
• Wikipedia - Sclater's Monal - Wikipedia's species page.