Habitat
Alpine meadows and subalpine rhododendron scrub and rocky precipitous slopes. From 3,000 - 4,200 m, descending to temperate forest at 2,000 - 3,000 m in October.
Sclater's Monal (Lophophorus sclateri) [XC156722]
by id from Mishmi Hills nr Muyudia Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, India (flight call)
Sclater's Monal (Lophophorus sclateri) [XC156721]
by Frank Lambert from Mishmi Hills nr Muyudia Pass, Arunachal Pradesh, India (call)
Subspecies
Forms superspecies with Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus). Proposed subspecies orientalis, for eastern populations, not widely accepted.
The following 3 subspecies are recognised:
arunachalensis Kumar & Singh, 2004 - Northern India (mts. of western Arunachal Pradesh).
sclateri Jerdon, 1870 - Eastern Himalayas.
orientalis Davison, GWH, 1974 - North-eastern Myanmar, western Yunnan (southern China).
Similar Species
Female differs from Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus) by less extensively white throat, lack of pale streaks on underparts, broader white tail tip, paler back to uppertail-coverts and absent curly crown feathers. Juvenile (both sexes) initially like female but darker above, with buff streaks.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet