A report on the habitats of Peking Robin Leiothrix lutea in Kyushu

Abstract

A study on the habitat selection of Peking Robin Leiothrix lutea, recently having invaded into Japan, and the composition of the forest living bird communities was carried out at Mt. Hikosan, Kirishima, Mt. Sefuri, Mt. Kurodake and Mt. Ichifusa, from 1991 to 1992. The abundance of the Peking Robin was high at Mt. Hikosan, Kirishima and Mt. Ichifusa, but low at Mt. Sefuri and Mt. Kurodake. The Peking Robin preferred the forests of Tsuga and Abies and deciduous broadleaved forests with dense undergrowth mainly consisting of the bamboo. The Peking Robin foraged, mainly by gleaning, in the foliage in the lower layer of the forests. The segregations of habitat and of foraging microhabitat occurred between the Peking Robin and other species (Cettia diphone, Parus ater, P. montanus, P. major and P. varius) showing a similar altitudinal distribution. No remarkable influences on the native bird communities were detected. The Peking Robin may have invaded into a vacant niche, a lower layer in the deciduous broadleaved forests, in Kyushu.