ECOLOGY OF THE CHINESE MONAL IN WINTER
绿尾虹雉的冬季生态研究

Studies concerning the winter ecology of the Chinese Monal were made from Dec. 1983 to Jan. 1984 in Baoxing county, Sichuan Province. The main results obtained are as follows. 1. Most of the Chinese Monals are found at an altitude of 3,500-4,000m in winter, as in summer. No instance of vertical movement of the species observed. 2. The Chinese Monals inhabit alpine shrubs and grassland in winter and their daily activities such as feeding and drinking are mainly at 7 :00-9:00 Am. and 4:30-6:00 p. m. Though sometimes in small group, they are usually seen in pairs or alone in their activities. They are less calling in winter and, actually, no whistle calling heard as frequently in summer. 3. Based upon the fact that the Chinese Monal and the Tibetan Eared Pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) usually inhabit in different slopes, and, upon the fact that when they live in the same slope together, the number of each species is much decreased and the total number of the two are less than the number in the area where only one species inhabits alone, we are of the opinion that the niches the Chinese Monal and the Tibetan Eared Pheasant occupying are quite alike, and thus, inducing competition between the two species. 4. Population density of the Chinese Monal is about one pair per 1.5-2.0km2 in its distributional range. The density is almost the least among the alpine pheasants found in our locality of observation. It shows that the Chinese Monal should be under urgent conservation.