Cheer Pheasant is a ground-dwelling bird famous for its loud calls.

Distribution and Habitat

• Distribution: Western Himalayan grasslands, from northern Pakistan across Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to central Nepal.
• Habitat: Steep, rocky hillsides studded with scrub, stunted trees and grassy slopes between 1,200 and 3,350 metres.

Important Characteristics 

• The Cheer Pheasant makes a ground nest (a shallow scrape under grass or rocks).
• It shows high natal philopatry. (Philopatry – birds stay near or return to their birthplace to breed.)
• It depends on early successional grasslands maintained by traditional controlled grass cutting and seasonal burning, where moderate disturbance helps sustain suitable habitat.
• Habitat is shrinking due to:
  • Human activities
  • Livestock grazing pressure
  • Hunting
  • Rapid land use changes

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Source: Down To Earth