Koklass

The koklass is an elusive, medium-sized bird, confined to high-altitude forest from Afghanistan across India to central Nepal, and northeastern Tibet to northern and eastern China. Like the western tragopan, it lives belowGHNP’s tree line.

The upper parts of the male koklass are covered with silver-grey plumage, streaked velvety black down the center of each feather. It has a black head, chestnut breast and prominent white patches on the sides of the neck.

Koklass

The female’s upper parts are covered with pale brown plumage. Both sexes have distinct, elongated tails tipped with pale feathers.

Males weigh between 1.135kg to 1.415kg, and females between 1.025kg and 1.135kg. Immature and juvenile males resemble adult females.

The koklass tends to skulk under bushes, which makes direct sightings difficult, but it can be identified by its loud dawn-chorus calls during the autumn and the breeding season. It lives in pairs or small family groups throughout the year, nests on the ground and spends the nights roosting in trees or under rock overhangs.