It appears to favour high-altitude (3,000-4,270 m), dry coniferous forest of mature spruce, and mixed fir and rhododendron forest, often with a poorly developed understorey. It forms small flocks in autumn, usually of five or six birds, but sometimes more than 10, and feeds on invertebrates and fruit. Juveniles have been collected between June and September, and a family party was seen in mid-June.

Red List Category

Red List Criteria

Version

2008

BirdLife International

Butchart, S., Bird, J., Crosby, M.

Justification

History

• 2004
  Vulnerable
• 2000
  Vulnerable
• 1996
  Vulnerable
• 1994
  Vulnerable

Population estimate <1 individual/km² x 14,300 km² (10% EOO) = <14,300 ie. best placed in the band 2,500-9,999 individuals (density based on description of species's rarity in BirdLife International 2001 and extrapolation from records in BirdLife Population Density Spreadsheet).

Decreasing

The main threat is likely to be the loss and fragmentation of forest, including substantial areas of the upper temperate and subalpine zone forests in Sichuan, through logging for timber and conversion to agriculture and pasture. Forest cover may also be declining on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau because the climate is progressively becoming drier.

Conservation Actions Underway
A number of protected areas established for giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca contain suitable habitat, but the species's distribution and abundance in these is poorly known. It has only been recorded from one protected area, Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve in Sichuan. This has an area of 200 km², where the natural habitats are apparently in excellent condition, but are under pressure from large-scale tourism. The species was the focus of a study in Jone (Zhouni) County, Gansu in 1999-2002¹.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Research its habitat requirements, altitudinal range and population status, particularly survey protected areas in or near its known range. Support recommendations to control logging, control fire and restore damaged giant panda habitat where this would benefit this species and other endemic temperate forest bird species. Strengthen protection and control tourism at Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve and link it to other important protected areas in the Min Shan. List it as a nationally protected species in China.