Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Human Activity Pushes Himalayan Monals Uphill and Alters Their Calls
The Himalayan monal is a colorful pheasant that lives in mountain forests.
Researchers studied how people and environmental changes are affecting the bird.
In noisy places, monals make higher-pitched calls, which may help their voices be heard.
The researchers say this is a response to the surroundings, not a permanent change.
Another study suggests that warmer temperatures and human activity are pushing monals farther up the mountains.
There may be less suitable space for them as they move higher.
Building projects, tourism and activity in alpine meadows also put pressure on their habitat.
The monal is the state bird of Uttarakhand and the national bird of Nepal.
Two studies by Indian researchers examined how human activity and environmental change affect Himalayan monals.
Researchers found that monals in noisier areas make calls with a higher peak pitch.
The researchers said this appears to be a flexible response, not a permanent or evolutionary change.
Climate and habitat modelling suggests rising temperatures and human activity are pushing monals to higher elevations, where suitable habitat may shrink.
Infrastructure, tourism and encroachment on alpine meadows add pressure; the monal is the state bird of Uttarakhand and national bird of Nepal.
- Who
- The Himalayan monal and researchers from Uttarakhand.
- What
- Two studies examined changes in the monal’s calls and habitat in response to noise, climate and human activity.
- When
- The studies were conducted over five years; the articles give no calendar dates.
- Where
- The Himalayas, including study locations in Uttarakhand and modelled areas in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
- Why
- Human-generated noise affects the birds’ calls, while rising temperatures and human activity are putting pressure on their habitat.
- Species
- Himalayan monal (Lophophorus impejanus), a pheasant
- Studies
- Two studies by researchers from Uttarakhand, conducted over five years
- Call study
- More than 700 vocalisations were examined from Chopta Valley and Madmaheshwar Valley
- Call finding
- Monals in noisier surroundings produced calls with a higher peak pitch
- Habitat finding
- Modelling suggests monals are moving to higher elevations and suitable habitat may shrink
- Pressures identified
- Infrastructure development, tourism, human-generated noise, rising temperatures and encroachment on alpine meadows
- Cultural status
- State bird of Uttarakhand and national bird of Nepal
