Koklass Pheasant

The koklass pheasant is the only species in its genus. The male's upperparts are silver-grey with a velvety black streak down the centre of each feather, and he has a black head, a chestnut breast and prominent white patches on the sides of the neck. Both sexes have long tails tipped with pale feathers. Males weigh about 1,135–1,415 g and are 58–64 cm long; females weigh about 1,025–1,135 g (Wikipedia, general species account).

Three of its subspecies are endemic to the southern side of the north-western and western Himalaya, and the other five are found only in China and Mongolia. The name comes from the bird's territorial call. It is adapted to cold, highly insectivorous in the warmer months when it nests and rears chicks, and stays in pairs or small family groups through the year. SoIB 2023 rates it a Low conservation priority, with a Moderate range and insufficient data on trends (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).