The distribution and status of Sichuan Grey Jay (Perisoreus internigrans)

The Sichuan Grey Jay is one of the least known endemic bird species in Chin a, distributed in Gansu, Sichuan, Qinghai and Tibet in west China. The spec ies inhabits the mountain spruce-fir conifer forest, at the altitude betwee n 2 900 m to 3 800 m. Males are slightly larger than females. 31.3 % (n = 1 9) of the individuals were found to have a white wing-bar, a characteristic which might be related to the age of the individual bird. This bird specie s was always reported to be rare. Large parts of the conifer forests within its distributional range have been cut down in the past 30-40 years which probably made it an even more rare and endangered local endemic. This jay m ay be able to stand a fair amount of selective forest cutting, but only wit hin certain limits. Substantial research is urgently needed on its behaviou r, ecology, conservation and genetic relationships.