Rare Blood Pheasant seen in the wild, Bhutan, in Tibet

From the archive record

The Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is the only species in genus Ithaginis of the Pheasant family. These pheasants originate from the Himalayas, ranging from Nepal through Tibet into northern Burma to northwest China. Their preferred habitat is coniferous or mixed forests and scrub areas right at the snowline. These pheasants move within their range depending on the seasons and during the summer are found at higher elevations. Populations move to lower elevations as the snow increases in the fall and winter. Both males and females have a distinct ring of bare skin around the eye that is crimson colored, in addition to red feet. Subspecies are determined by varying amounts of red and black feathers. They prefer green foods and in the wild they eat mostly lichens. They pick up food with