2002 Volume 33 Issue 2 Pages 168-175
Habitat selection and flock size of Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsoniae) were investigated in Lhasa mountains, Tibet, from November 1995 to February 1996. The habitats constituted the study area were divided into seven types. Partridge flocks used all the seven types of habitat in late-autumn to early-winter. However, during late-winter the birds were only found in three types of habitat on the south-facing slopes or open fields. Stream belts with scrub dominated by Rose Rosa sericea and Barberry Berberis hemleyana were the most preferable throughout autumn-winter. Food availability was considered to be a main factor affecting habitat selection. Partridges performed day-roosting behavior around mid day under dense bushes in the stream belts. Their night-roosting sites were mostly located under dense scrub vegetation on the ground at higher altitudes, especially habitats on the north-facing slopes. As the season progressed, frequencies of encountering partridge flocks decreased from 0.78 in late-autumn to early-winter to 0.37 per h in late-winter, with change of mean flock size from 7.41 to 5.21.
