This Rare Bird Looks Like Blue Fire in the Himalayas

High in the Himalayas lives a bird like no other. The Grandala’s brilliant blue feathers shimmer like sapphires, catching the mountain light against the vast sky.

These birds favour heights above 3,900 metres where the air is thin and the landscape rugged. They live in places few dare to venture.

Grandalas gather in flocks swirling and shifting like strokes of blue paint on a rocky canvas, merging effortlessly with their lofty surroundings.

The males wear striking blue plumage while females and young wear gentle browns. This contrast tells a story of survival and adaptation.

They build nests on cliffs, weaving together sticks, moss, and feathers, safe from predators and hidden from plain sight.

When winter arrives, they descend to lower slopes drawn by bright berries like sea buckthorn, a season when they become easier to spot. Video credits: Vinay Kumar Singh

Their diet is diverse and opportunistic, consisting of insects, berries, and fruits, and they often hunt alongside other birds sharing their alpine habitat.

Their soft calls, gentle “dew-ee” notes, drift through the valleys, subtle reminders of their presence in the vast wilderness.

From India to Tibet, Nepal to Bhutan, these birds paint the Himalayas with bursts of blue, a secret wonder of this vast mountain range.

Despite their striking looks, much about the Grandala remains unknown, inviting explorers and birdwatchers alike to uncover their mysteries. Pic: Animalia

To glimpse a Grandala is to catch a momentary piece of mountain magic, a rare and gleaming jewel in the wild expanse of the Himalayas.