Fauna
Bird

Blood Pheasant

Ithaginis cruentus

Also known as Blood Partridge

Blood pheasants forage in small, tight-knit coveys through misty rhododendron thickets and subalpine conifer forests across the Himalayas. Males display vivid streaks of crimson on their breast, face, and tail coverts that contrast sharply against ash-grey plumage and bare crimson eye-rings. These sturdy birds undergo pronounced seasonal altitudinal migrations, following receding snowlines upward in spring to forage on lichens, moss, and alpine shoots.

MontaneHigh-altitudeColorful
Blood Pheasant reference
(c) Morten Ross, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Morten Ross · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyTree lichens, Rhododendron seeds, Insects
Predators
  • Snow leopard
  • Red fox
  • Golden eagle
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, winter firewood harvesting, and localized subsistence hunting
HabitatsSubalpine coniferous forests, rhododendron scrub, and high-altitude alpine meadows
Life span10–15 years
Classification
  1. FamilyPhasianidae
  2. SpeciesIthaginis cruentus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Patience: Move slowly along established trails, as coveys blend into leaf litter and quietly retreat into brush when alarmed.
  • Observation timing: Scan open snowline edges and trail margins during misty early mornings when flocks feed actively.
Related species
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