Srinagar, May 1 -- Birdwatchers have captured the first-ever photographic evidence of an extremely rare and vulnerable bird in the Kashmir Himalayas.

The highly elusive bird is called Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus). This brightly plumed pheasant is endemic to the Western Himalayas and its distribution ranges from northwestern Pakistan through Kashmir into Himachal Pradesh and possibly the western parts of Uttarakhand.

Local Bird-Watching Club, Kashmir Birdwatch, confirmed this development, saying "Delighted to share the first ever pictorial evidence of the Western Tragopan from Jammu & Kashmir," a post in the group mentioned.

The photograph was captured by acclaimed bird photographer Jainy Maria and Valley-based Professiona...