This paper provides the information on nesting biology of 20 bird species in alpine shrub (4000-4700 m a.s.l.) or alpine meadow-wasteland habitats (4300-4700 m a.s.l.) in Lhasa region,Tibet.Of these species,three are endemic to the Tibetan plateau and 17 widespread in altitudes.The data on these taxa are all new to the high-altitude environments,especially the upper limit of their breeding distribution.A few species are firstly reported with respect to nesting information in the world.The study will contribute our knowledge for natural history of birds occurring in the harsh,extreme habitats.
Habitat use by Galliformes in an ornithologically unexplored region,a forest area in southeastern Tibet,was investigated during the summer and autumn periods of 1995.A total of seven species were recorded,most of which preferred habitats on south-facing slopes and avoided those on north-facing slopes where conditions were relatively humid.A hybrid population of White (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) versus Tibetan Eared-pheasants (C.harmani) was predominant among the Galliforme community,followed by Blood Pheasants (Ithaginis cruentus) and Chinese Grouse (Bonasa sewerzowi).A further investigation in 2001 showed that on account of little human activity in the distant primary forests,the birds suffered less of a threat from hunting and habitat disturbance.
