During the breeding season (April-June), it inhabits little-disturbed temperate coniferous and deciduous forests, typically of brown oak, holly oak, or conifers with dense understorey, from 2,400-3,600 m. In winter, it makes very local altitudinal or lateral movements, to grassy or shrubby gullies with less snow cover, between 1,750 m and 3,000 m. Its primary diet consists of mainly new leaves, roots, flowers, and some insects or grubs.

This species has a disjunct distribution in the western Himalayas (Rahmani 2012), occurring from Indus-Kohistan district, north Pakistan, east through Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand in north-west India (BirdLife International 2001).

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. It is afforded legal protection in both India and Pakistan. Occurs in several protected areas, including the Great Himalayan National Park and Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary in northwest India, and Machiara National Park in northeast Pakistan, as well as Salkhala Game Reserve, in Pakistan (McGowan and Kirwan 2020). Awareness-raising activities, field officer training and population surveys were conducted recently in Salkhala Game Reserve, Pakistan; the game reserve remains an important area for the species (Awan 2010, Awan and Buner 2014). The Himalayan Jungle Project in Palas Valley, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, was established to promote local participation in conservation of a large area of mid-altitude temperate forest by developing sustainable use (McGowan and Kirwan 2020). Since 2001, the successor initiative, the Palas Conservation and Development Project, conducted several surveys and monitoring programmes for investigation and protection of the natural and cultural heritage of Pakistan (Shah et al. 2022). Surveys in Himachal Pradesh were initiated by the state wildlife department in 2011, and state-wide surveys were started there in 2012 (F. Buner in litt. 2012). A captive-breeding programme has been established (Malviya et al. 2011). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Establish standardised and repeated point count surveys in important areas for ongoing monitoring of the population. Conduct surveys beyond known major population. Further research is needed on the population response to different types of habitat/general disturbance. Management of protected areas needs to be improved, including halting grazing and logging within protected areas. A review of all Pakistan's protected area management plans is recommended (Awan et al. 2021b). Future conservation measures and management practices needs to incorporate local people, particularly as trade of natural products is an important economic factor (Shah et al. 2022). Extend the boundaries of Salkhala Game Reserve and implement a monitoring programme (Awan 2010). Extend the boundaries of older protected areas such as Machiara National Park and Salkhala Game Reserve, and establish new protected areas in Pir-Chinasi and Leepa valley (Awan 2016a). Initiate public awareness campaigns in and around known sites, highlighting its flagship status for the conservation of moist temperate forests and other pheasant species. Investigate the impacts of hunting and the motivations in different areas. Conduct further research into the impacts of climate change, particularly, the species' ability to colonise newly suitable areas and to adapt to shifts in habitat.