Foraging-sites and day-roosting selection of Crossoptilon mantchuricum during early breeding period in Huanglong Mountains Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China

A study on the brown-eared pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum) in Huanglong Mountains, Shaanxi, China, revealed distinct habitat preferences for foraging and day-roosting during the early breeding period (February-March 2006). The research identified that these birds favored foraging sites with lower altitude, gentler slopes, proximity to trails or gullies, fewer tree/shrub varieties, reduced grass cover/height, and higher visibility. Conversely, they preferred half-sunny slopes for roosting, characterized by smaller slope degrees, greater distance from trails, denser tree cover, and lower shrub/grass density/height with reduced visibility. Classification models using these variables accurately distinguished used habitats from random sites (96.08% for foraging, 75.64% for roosting), highlighting critical factors like geographical characteristics, tree density, shrub diversity, grass cover, slope degree, and trail distance as key discriminators. The findings provide insights into the ecological requirements of this species in its natural habitat.

LI, H.-q., & LIAN, Z.-m. (2011). Foraging-sites and day-roosting selection of Crossoptilon mantchuricum during early breeding period in Huanglong Mountains Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China. Journal of Hunan Agricultural University, 36(5), 552–555. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1238.2010.00552