ECOLOGY OF JORETIAN KOKLASS PHEASANT
勺鸡的生态研究

Joretian subspecies of Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha j oretiana) only occupies in Mt. Da-Bie of eastern China. We had been studied it from 1984 to 1990. The birds are found in broadleaf forests at an elevation of 850-1400 m, and in the patches of secondary woods in the cultivated areas at an elevation of 200-370 m. The birds roost on trees at night and the cocks crow in the morning. They are vegetarian, and feed mainly on the tender parts of various plants. There are 5-8 eggs in a full clutch on the ground nest built by female birds in April. Only females incubate and the incubation period is 25 days. According to our census, the population density of the birds in the observing area is 12.8/km2 in breeding period and 28.7 / km2 in winter.