DOES NESTING COVER LIMIT ABUNDANCE OF RING-NECKED PHEASANTS IN NORTH-AMERICA

I examined the hypothesis that availability of suitable nesting cover is a major limiting factor for North American pheasant (Phasianus colc hicus) populations. North American technical publications about pheasa nt nesting for 1933-1990 were reviewed and categorized to 8 habitat ty pes and 3 methods of nest detection. I extracted comparable variables for available habitat, nesting, and hatching. Occurrence of pheasant n ests in different habitats relative to habitat availability differed a mong methods used to locate nests. High- and low-density pheasant popu lations did not differ in proportion of nests in different habitats or proportion of successful nests among habitats. Analyses did not suppo rt the hypothesis examined. An alternative hypothesis of territory cov er as a limiting factor is discussed.