Description:

Large sized dimorphic pheasant with orange-red male and smaller dull greyish brown female. Male has orange fore-neck, blackish underparts that are boldly spotted with white, red hind-neck, and red facial skin. Female is dull greyish brown in coloration, with white spotting on underparts.

Distribution:

Rare resident in the southern most border areas of Diamer and Astore districts. Found around 3500m, transitional moist or dry temperate forest, typically of oak and conifers, with dense understorey, descends to 2000m in winter.

Behavior:

Wary and skulking in dense undergrowth. When disturbed may fly up to branches of nearby tree. Feed in trees as well as on ground. Occasionally feeding with other pheasants, sometimes in relatively open forest glades. Primarily vegetarian, mainly eating new leaves, including those of box, oak and ringal bamboo. Other food items include roots, flowers, and some insects and grubs.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Western Tragopan in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Western Tragopan

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.