![]() Rest of upperparts iridescent purplish-green primaries and outer secondaries blackish. Male has metallic green head with blue eye-ring and orbital skin (in front of eye) surrounded by large black area, rufous-gold back of neck, golden mantle, and white lower back. ID & COMPARISON Male readily distinguished by iridescent plumage and powerful build distinguished from other monals by drooping purple crest and purplish-green tail. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Subalpine rhododendron scrub and bushy alpine meadows with bare rock outcrops sometimes descends to subalpine coniferous forest in winter. Ranges southeast Qinghai, southern Gansu, western Sichuan, eastern Tibet, and possibly northwest Yunnan. ( Craig Brelsford)Ĭhinese Monal Lophophorus lhuysii is the largest monal and the only one endemic to China. Rain is possible in the mountains.Chinese Monal Lophophorus lhuysii, male, Balangshan tunnel area ( 30.877921, 102.966226), Sichuan, China, May. The weather is variable at this time of year, but expect it to be quite warm around Chengdu, ranging to cold with possible snow showers in higher areas. Some long drives are necessary but the roads are mainly paved now and our minibus/coaster is both comfortable and well maintained. Tour Code: This is a relatively adventurous tour as we will spend a lot of the tour birding between 2,700m - 4,200m, although this is mainly from roads. ![]() We will stay in the best available lodges/guest houses as close to the birding sites as possible. Not included: International airfare, insurance, visa fee, drinks, tips, and items of a personal nature.Īccommodation: The hotels used during this tour range from standard to good, all with en-suite facilities. Included in cost: Accommodation in twin rooms en-suite, all meals including picnic lunches where necessary, bottled water, snacks, all entrance fees, transport throughout, and services of local guides and leaders. Group size: Minimum for tour to go ahead 5 and maximum 9. Leader: Nick Bray/Derek Barber and local guides. With such enigmatic species as Temminck's Tragopan, Chinese Monal, Black-necked Crane, Firethroat, Sichuan Jay, Red-winged Laughingthrush and much more, all seen amidst some of the most spectacular mountainous scenery imaginable and you can see why this is such an exciting tour. We also visit several lesser-known mountains during this unique ZOOTHERA tour which provides the opportunity to see as many of the endemic and sough-after specialities as possible amidst some of the most exciting scenery imaginable. Our unique and special tour takes in the well-known sites of Longcanggou, Balang Shan, Mengbi Shan and finishes with a spectacular visit to the Tibetan Plateau. ![]() There is a remarkable wealth of birdlife waiting in its rich evergreen and temperate forests, alpine meadows, mighty snow-capped mountains and grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau which form some of the most spectacular scenery of any bird tour! China is a vast country and it is impossible to do justice to the amazing diversity of superb birds in one trip, so this tour concentrates on the mountainous province of Sichuan. It is a huge province, the size of France and hosts the richest concentration of Chinese specialities and endemics in this vast country. Sichuan lies in the very heart of China and is situated on the eastern edge of the vast Tibetan Plateau.
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