The western horned tragopan, also known as the western tragopan, is a stunningly feathered pheasant that can be found in the Himalayas stretching from the north-eastern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northern Pakistan to Uttarakhand in India. Unfortunately, this beautiful bird is at high risk of extinction and is considered globally threatened.
The male of this species is easily distinguishable with its dark, grey and black feathers adorned with white spots bordered by black lines. Its neck is decorated with deep crimson patches and its throat has blue skin, while its facial skin is red. The male also sports a small black occipital crest. On the other hand, females have pale brownish-grey upper parts with black patches and central white streaks. Immature males resemble females but are larger with longer legs and may have black on their heads and red on their necks. Males weigh between 1.8 to 2.2 kilograms while females weigh between 1.25 to 1.4 kilograms. Males are also longer, ranging from 55 to 60 centimeters, while females are 48 to 50 centimeters long.
There are five distinct populations of this particular species found in various regions across Pakistan and India. These areas include Kohistan and Kaghan valley in Pakistan, as well as Kishtwar, Chamba, and Kullu districts in India. Additionally, they can be found in an area east of the Satluj river in India. These creatures tend to reside at altitudes ranging from 1,750 to 3,600 m, but may venture higher in the summer months. They prefer to live amongst the dense understorey of temperate, subalpine, and broad-leaved forests.
The Western Tragopan makes its home in upper temperate forests, typically found between 2,400 and 3,600 meters during the summer months. In the winter, they prefer dense coniferous and broad-leaved forests located between 2,000 and 2,800 meters above sea level. While mainly an arboreal species, they also forage on the ground, consuming a diet consisting mostly of leaves, shoots, and seeds. They do occasionally eat insects and other invertebrates. These birds are known for their unique courtship displays, during which males inflate their throat lappets to reveal a purple color with pink edges. The males also display blue horns, resembling those of Pan, the Greek god, hence the origin of their name, tragopan (tragos meaning “goat” + Pan). During these displays, they call out with a loud two-note ringing sound that repeats every second for long periods. Breeding season occurs in May and June, with nests constructed in low tree hollows. Anthropogenic disturbance poses a threat to this bird species, causing them to avoid disturbed habitats such as hydro-electric project development sites.
Currently, there is a sign in Himachal Pradesh, India that informs visitors about the Western Tragopan. This pheasant is extremely rare and has a very limited range. Locally, it is known as daangeer in Kashmir, phulgar in Chamba, and jujurana (“king of birds”) in the Kullu valley. In 2007, Himachal Pradesh declared it as the state bird.
The western tragopan’s existence is under threat due to various human-related factors in its habitat. With a global population of less than 5,000 individuals, including less than ten breeding pairs in captivity in Himachal Pradesh, urgent action is needed to protect this species from extinction. To discourage the trade of its feathers, CITES has categorized the western tragopan as an Appendix I species. This bird is native to the Western Himalayan region and is considered a range-restricted species.
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