Assessing Micro-habitat Preferences of Hill Partridge ( Arborophila torqueola ) in the Central Himalayan landscape of India

Abstract

Ground-dwelling birds are one of the most vulnerable taxa. These birds are also under-studied and therefore constitute the lesser-known group of aves. Understanding their patterns of resource selection and their relationship with the composites of their habitat is a prerequisite for ensuring the effectiveness of future conservation efforts. Hill partridge (Arborophila torqueola) is distributed in a vast range throughout the Himalayas to South-East Asia but knowledge about its micro-habitat is provided by only a single short term study from China. Their sulking behavior and inconspicuous habitat type make it extremely challenging to study them closely. However, with the advent of camera traps, it was possible to observe them meticulously during this study. We attempted to discern the patterns of its habitat selection, and its relationship with various vegetative and non-vegetative components. This study revealed a complex pattern of habitat selection by hill partridge. They preferred habitat with a greater canopy and bamboo cover. It inhabited forests dominated by oak trees in combination with other trees. They were virtually absent from the sites that showed higher bare-ground percentages.