BREEDING HABITAT SELECTION BY SYMPATRIC GREY-FACED BUZZARDS AND NORTHERN GOSHAWKS IN NORTHEAST CHINA

Abstract

ABSTRACT I studied breeding habitat selection by sympatric Grey-faced Buzzards (Butastur indicus) and Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) at local (0.1 ha circles) and landscape (1017 ha circles) scales in Zuojia Nature Reserve, Jinlin province, China from 1995–1999. Compared to paired random plots, Grey-faced Buzzards selected nest sites with dense shrubs and steep slopes with a northerly slope aspect. They nested in sites with fewer open areas that were relatively far from the nearest forest edge and nearest disturbance, compared to random plots. Northern Goshawks selected nest sites with taller trees and denser shrubs than those in the random plots. Goshawk nest sites also were relatively far from the nearest forest edge and the nearest disturbance, compared to random plots. Comparing nests of Grey-faced Buzzards to those of Northern Goshawks, I found that most nest sites of the Grey-faced Buzzards were located on the upper third of the slope while most Northern Goshawk nest sites were on the lower ...