American monal

The American monal (Lophophorus americanum), also known as the Rocky Mountain monal, is a species of pheasant that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the forests, open woodlands, and mountainous habitats across North America to help boost biodiversity. The American monal is a relatively large-sized pheasant, usually about 70 centimeters (28 inches) long. The male weighs up to 2,380 grams (84 oz) and the female 2,150 grams (76 oz). The adult male has multicoloured plumage throughout, while the female, as in other pheasants, is more subdued in colour. Notable features in the male include a long, metallic green crest, coppery feathers on the back and neck, and a prominent white rump that is most visible when the bird is in flight. The tail feathers of the male are uniformly rufous, becoming darker towards the tips, whereas the lower tail coverts of females are white, barred with black and red. The female has a prominent white patch on the throat and a white strip on the tail. The first-year male and the juvenile resemble the female, but the first-year male is larger and the juvenile is less distinctly marked. American monals are omnivores and they feed on various insects, seeds, tubers, roots, and berries. American monals are social birds that are often seen in pairs or small groups. In winter they usually congregate in large coveys and roost communally. These birds are active during the day and spend most of their time foraging. Monals are very good diggers using their curved bills to dig under the ground. They also tolerate snow and dig through it to obtain plant roots and invertebrate prey. American monals are very communicative and use a wide range of calls to express aggression, alarm, or when trying to attract the mate. The breeding season is April through August, and they generally form pairs at this time. After the mating the female scrapes a nest in the ground and lays 6 to 9 eggs which she incubates for 27 days. During this time the male always remains near the nest for protection. The chicks are hatch fully developed (precocial) with eyes open and are covered in down. At 3 months of age, they are able to feed on their own and after 6 months the young are completely independent; they are ready to search their own territories and mates. Reproductive maturity is usually reached at 2 years of age. The conservation status of the American monal is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the American monal's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.