Habitat use of Tibetan Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon harmani flocks in the non-breeding season

Habitat use by Tibetan Eared Pheasant Crossoptilon harmani flocks in shrub vegetation was investigated in the Lhasa area of Tibet during the non-breeding season of 1995-1996. Home range composition varied considerably among flocks, but stream belts were consistently used as foraging grounds. Slope direction, altitude and vegetation had little effect on habitat selection. In the absence of supplemental food, core range size was positively correlated with flock size, suggesting that food supplementation could support larger flocks. Flocks regularly roosted on the ground at midday at two or three relatively fixed sites within core ranges. At night they used patches of relatively tall, dense vegetation at the year-round sites in areas near cliffs or in hollows. The size of the night-roost site was related to flock size. Our results strongly suggested that both foraging and night-roosting habitats in the shrub environment are crucial to the birds.