The Kalij Pheasant is a species occurring from the Pakistan Himalayas in the west to Thailand in the east. There are at least nine subspecies found across the distribution range of the species. The coloration of the males varies among the different subspecies but the western birds belonging to subspecies ‘hamiltoni’, also known as White-crested Kalij Pheasant, are the most beautiful.
There is a good population of Kalij Pheasant in Corbett Tiger Reserve. This beautiful male White-crested Kalij Pheasant was recorded at Jhirna Tourism Zone of Corbett Tiger Reserve by Jim’s Jungle Retreat Chief Naturalist, Manoj Sharma.