Royle's pika

Royle's pika, also called the Himalayan hare, has a slightly arched head, a rufous-grey body, a chestnut-coloured head and sparse hair in front of the ears. It is the most common pika species in the Himalayas and can be confused with the sympatric large-eared pika (Wikipedia, general species account).

In the Nepal Himalayas it occurs at a density of 12.5 individuals per hectare, against 16.2 per hectare in the Garhwal Himalayas. It forages mainly at dawn and dusk and is inactive around midday, partly because heat stress rises as temperatures climb. It does not make its own nest but uses narrow creeks and existing burrow systems, and typically lives alone. No Nepal national status is stated because the 2011 list has no matching entry.