13. Kestrel: (Falco tinnuculus) Hindi name: Karontia; 35 cms. In winter usually between 700 to 5000 mts. Male brick red with black dots and ashy-grey head. Spotted buff with brown marks below. Female rufous and cross-barred with blackish colour and paler below with denser markings. Pointed black wings with a rounded grey tail with broad black terminal bands help identification in flight. Found in cultivated uplands, sparse hillsides and mountain passes, mostly singly. Feeds on large insects, lizards, mice small birds etc.

14. Snow Partridge: (Lerwa lerwa) Hindi name: Kur Monal; 40 cms; 3000 to 5000 mts. descending to 2500 mts. only in very severe winters. Sexes alike. Prominent red bill and legs and barred black and white above, while from breast downwards, it is chestnut with white streaks. Affects upon hillsides above treeline in family parties or coveys of up to twenty birds. Feeds on lichen, moss, seeds and shoots and perhaps, occasionally insects. Call similar to that of grey partridge in the breeding season.

15. Tibetan Snowcock: (Tetraogallus tibetannus) 70 cms; 3500 to 5500 mts. Stout dumpy bird like a grey partridge. Dark grey and sandy above, finely streaked with buff. White wing patch conspicuous in flight. Throat and breast white with broad grey breast barred which is streaked with fulvous in females. Rest of the under parts are white, streaked with black. Inhabits bare, rocky, sparse hillsides and ridges and alpine pastures above the tree line. In coveys of five or more birds. Feeds on bulbs, tubers grass and much grit.

16. Himalayan Snowcock: (Tetraogallus himalayensis) 2400 to 5500 mts. Sexes alike. Differs from above only in slightly larger size. Male 72 cms. with chestnut band across breast and grey lower breast and belly. Habits and food similar to above.

17. Monal Pheasant: (Lophophrus impejanus) 70 cms. 2500 to 5000 mts. Male is a brilliant lustrous green, blue, purple with large white rump and a crest of stiff wire feathers. Tail cinnamon, wings chestnut, velvety jet back below. Female brown mottled with paler and darker shades and a short tuft on head. Singly or in pairs or parties of three or four in high forests, steep hillsides or pastures. Digs with powerful bill in earth or snow for seeds, roots, tubers, berries, insects etc. Call like a wild, ringing whistle

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