Habitat selection and use by a hybrid of white and Tibetan eared pheasantsin eastern Tibet during the post-incubation period

We investigated habitat selection and use by a recently discovered hybrid o f the white eared pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) and Tibetan eared ph easant (Crossoptilon harmani) in the forests of eastern Tibet (93 degrees 3 9'E, 32 degrees 24'N) during the post-incubation period in 1995. The freque ncy of encountering molted feathers was used as an indicator of the relativ e abundance of eared pheasants in order to analyze patterns of habitat sele ction and use. Forests on south-facing slopes, dominated by the hollyleaf-l ike oak (Quercus aquifolioides) and Tibetan juniper (Sabina tibetica), were the habitats preferred by eared pheasants. North-facing slopes with conife rous forest, which is the most preferred habitat of eared pheasant species in other areas, were completely avoided, probably because moisture-heat con ditions there are beyond the birds' physiological tolerance. We conclude th at climatic conditions are the main determinant of macrohabitat selection b y eared pheasant species. In preferred habitats, oak and juniper woodland a ccounted for a larger proportion of home ranges of family flocks. Daily mov ements of a flock might cover a large altitudinal range, from the base of t he mountain to the area above tree line, with an apparent preference for si tes that can be used for foraging and dusting.