Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus)

India is blessed with a diverse array of birds, celebrated for their striking forms, vibrant colors, lively movements, and enchanting songs. This vast subcontinent, with its diverse climatic conditions and physical features, provides suitable habitats for a wide variety of feathered inhabitants. The four postage stamps featuring Indian birds in 1968 received great appreciation both within India and abroad. The Posts and Telegraphs Department is delighted to introduce another series of four stamps showcasing Indian birds.

Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus): This species is one of the most colorful among the four types of tragopans, or Horned Pheasants, that inhabit the Himalayas. They can be found at altitudes ranging from 1300 meters in winter to 3500 meters in summer. The male Western Tragopan boasts brilliantly colored plumage and two long, brightly colored fleshy horns above each side of its head, which are erected during courtship. Additionally, it has a brightly colored wattle or ‘bib’ of naked skin adorning its throat, which also expands during courtship. The species depicted here is distinguished from the others by its white-spotted black underparts. The female, on the other hand, is a more modestly dressed brown bird with white streaks in her upper plumage. Tragopans are highly valued by hunters, and hunting and trapping have significantly reduced their numbers, pushing them to the brink of extinction in some areas. Consequently, all tragopan species have been officially listed as endangered in India and are fully protected by law.