Cheer pheasant

Cheer pheasant
Catreus wallichii, Hardwicke, 1827

It lives on steep slopes as well as in tall grasses and thickets, at altitudes between 1100 and 3300 m above sea level. Never have any cheer pheasants been observed drinking water in natural conditions. The entire population counts 4–6 thousand individuals, therefore these birds are considered endangered. In their natural habitats, national parks have been established, hunting has been banned and attempts are being made to reintroduce cheer pheasants.
Distribution: central and western Himalayas, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Tibet, Bhutan

male
body length: 90–112 cm
wing length: 23,5–27 cm
body mass: 1,25–1,8 kg
female
body length: 61–67 cm
wing length: 23,5–27 cm
body mass: 0,9–1,36 kg