Seasonality of a forest bird community in Hong Kong, South China

We studied the composition of a secondary forest bird community in Hong Kon g (22 degrees N) between December 1992 and June 1995, using the variable po int count method. The visual detectability of each bird species had a signi ficant positive relationship with body length. A total of 71 bird species w as recorded but three resident habitat-generalists, the Great Tit Parus maj or, Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis and Japanese White-eye Zosterop s japonicus, accounted for 65% of the mean total bird density of 38 per ha. The number of species seen was highest between December and April and lowe st from July to September, but the total bird density was highest between D ecember and June and lowest from August to September. The main breeding sea son was from March to August. Insectivores and insectivore-frugivores accou nted for 80% of the species and 98% of the total bird density. The percenta ges of migrant species and individuals are similar to those reported at equ ivalent latitudes in North America. Bird community diversity and compositio n differed considerably from that of larger, older forest areas in South Ch ina, presumably as a result of differences in forest age, area and isolatio n.