Habitat selection and use by a hybrid of white and Tibetan eared pheasants in eastern Tibet during the post-incubation period

Abstract

We investigated habitat selection and use by a recently discovered hybrid of the white eared pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) and Tibetan eared pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani) in the forests of eastern Tibet (93°39'E, 32°24'N) during the post-incubation period in 1995. The frequency of encountering molted feathers was used as an indicator of the relative abundance of eared pheasants in order to analyze patterns of habitat selection and use. Forests on south-facing slopes, dominated by the hollyleaf-like oak (Quercus aquifolioides) and Tibetan juniper (Sabina tibetica), were the habitats preferred by eared pheasants. North-facing slopes with coniferous forest, which is the most preferred habitat of eared pheasant species in other areas, were completely avoided, probably because moisture-heat conditions there are beyond the birds' physiological tolerance. We conclude that climatic conditions are the main determinant of macrohabitat selection by eared pheasant species. In preferred habitats, oak and juniper woodland accounted for a larger proportion of home ranges of family flocks. Daily movements of a flock might cover a large altitudinal range, from the base of the mountain to the area above tree line, with an apparent preference for sites that can be used for foraging and dusting.