Distribution of the goldcrest Regulus regulus during breeding season in Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

The goldcrest Regulus regulus was censused along one to three 2-km transects (a total of 1,118) situated in 993 5km-quadrates (4.5×5km), in Hokkaido from late April to late July, 1976-2016. Based on census results, data recorded in the literatures and personal records of amateur ornithologists, Goldcrests were recorded mainly from the central area to eastern area, occurring in 18.9 % of quadrates in which census or observations were conducted. They occurred mainly in ever-green coniferous and mixed forests with occurrence rates (No. of transects of occurrence/No. of transects censused) of 58.8 and 47.5 % respectively and, mainly in more than 401m in altitudes.