
Taxonomy and Distribution 
Order Galliformes 
Family - Phasianidae 
Genus Lophur a 
Species L. leucomelana 
Subspecies 
White-crested Kalij L. 1. hamiltonii The western Himalayas from the 
Indus River to western Nepal. 
leucomelana Western, central and southern 
Nepal and adjacent India. 
Nepal Kalij 
Ite 
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Black-backed Kalij L. 1. melanota Eastern Nepal, Sikkim, western 
Bhutan and adjacent India. 
Black-breasted Kalij L. 1. lathami Western Bhutan, Assam, hills of 
. East Pakistan and western Burma. 
Black Kalij L. 1. moffitti Unknown 
Williams Kalij L. 1. williamsi Western Burma 
Oate's Kalij L. 1. oatesi Hill country of southwestern Burma. 
Lineated Kalij L. 1. lineata Rough country of eastern Burma and 
northwestern Thailand. 
Crawfurd's Kalij L. 1. crawfurdi Rough country in southeastern Burma 
and adjacent Thailand. 
Introductions 
Present records indicate only the black-backed kalij as having 
been liberated in the United States. In the early 1900's five pairs 
were released by the Connecticut Game Commission; nothing was heard of 
them thereafter. Though kalij are easily raised in captivity, they have 
never been popylar because of their generally dark plumage. This may 
account for the lack of attempts to acclimatize these birds in several 
parts of the world. 
The Kalij Pheasants of India 
This report is primarily concerned with the four subspecies 
of kalij pheasants that are abundant in India, Nepal, Sikkim and 
Bhutan. These were selected because they are the more northerly races 
to live under climatic and habitat conditions most nearly comparable 
to the United States. The white-crested kalij has been covered in 
greater detail than the others since it, in characteristics, is fairly 
typical of all and is the one most likely to be available for trial 
introduction. 
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