The male Himalayan Monal has dazzling iridescent plumage which shines in shades of metallic green, copper, blue, and violet.  Many of his colours are created by reflective structures in his feathers that amplify certain wavelengths of light.  The female, by contrast, is brown and mottled, perfectly camouflaged on rocks and dirt.

During the breeding season, males perform elaborate courtship displays to attract mates. They fan their tails, bob their shoulders, and strut in semicircles around the female.

Himalayan Monals are omnivorous, eating plant material like roots, seeds, and berries, as well as bugs.  The forage by moving leaf litter and dirt with their beak.  In winter they move to lower altitudes to escape heavy snow, moving back up the mountains in summer.

Nesting takes place on the ground.  The female lays three to five eggs, which she incubates for about four weeks.  Chicks are precocial, able to start following their mother and foraging within hours of hatching out of the egg.

Though listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, Himalayan Monals face ongoing threats from habitat loss and hunting for their ornamental feathers. Nevertheless, they remain widespread across much of their range.