The breeding of most high-altitude birds remains poorly known. We studied the breeding ecology of Kessler’s thrush (Turdus kessleri) and documented reproductive information throughout the nestling periods in the western Sichuan plateau. The data included natural nest sites, nest components, nest size, egg-laying dates, egg morphology, egg size, clutch size, egg incubation, nestling brooding and feeding, nestling morphology and growth, and reproductive outcome. The study found that T. kessleri used the old nest to breed. As the nestling grew, the female’s nestling brooding time decreased, and the feeding frequency of parent birds increased at first and then decreased. The frequency of clearing feces was positively correlated with the feeding frequency. The difference in the feeding frequency of both parents may be attributed to their division of labor, with a distinct difference between their investments. The parent birds’ cost of reproduction per nestling varies from one breeding period to the next. Predation by natural enemies is the main factor leading to reproductive failure in T. kessleri. This suite of life-history and behavioral strategies enables fledgling T. kessleri to cope with the harsh environments of mountains at higher altitudes.
Closely related birds that occur sympatrically will inevitably differ in the acquisition of food resources, nest site selection, and breeding times. The successful coexistence of birds that breed in the same area can be determined by investigating how they divide limited resources and reduce interspecific competition. Our study area is located at the eastern foot of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with a high altitude and low annual average temperature. In this study, the life history characteristics and reproductive ecological parameters of two closely related species, the Chestnut Thrush (Turdus rubrocanus) and the Kessler’s Thrush (Turdus kessleri), were compared in detail in April–July of 2020, 2021, and 2022 in the scrub along the Liqiu River in Xinduqiao Town, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garzê, Sichuan. The results showed no differences in nesting material, nest cup size, clutch size, feeding strategy of nestlings, brood food type, and reproductive effectiveness between the Chestnut Thrush and the Kessler’s Thrush. However, the Kessler’s Thrush had a higher nesting height, thicker nest wall, earlier breeding time, smaller eggs, fewer brooding frequent and a longer brooding time compared to the Chestnut Thrush. In addition, they invested more time in parental care, resulting in a faster growth and development rate. The results indicate that birds with different ranges and breeding in the same range show convergent and divergent life history characteristics in terms of reproductive biology. Chestnut Thrush with low reproductive altitude shows the characteristics of low-altitude bird reproduction in part of reproductive biology, while Kessler’s Thrush with high reproductive altitude shows the characteristics of high-altitude bird reproduction in part of reproductive biology.
pardus)、马麝(Moschus chrysogaster)、荒漠猫(Felis bieti)、黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)和黄喉雉鹑(Tetraophasis szechenyii), 国家 II级重点保护野生动物有棕熊(Ursus arctos)、猕猴(Macaca mulatta)等18种。被IUCN评估为濒危(EN)的物种2种, 即马麝和矮 岩羊(Pseudois schaeferi); 易危(VU)和近危(NT)的物种分别为7种和5种。被CITES纳入附录I、附录II和附录III的物种分别为7 种、8种和4种。兽类中相对多度指数(relative abundance index, RAI)最高的为毛冠鹿(Elaphodus cephalophus, RAI = 8.366), 鸟 类中相对多度指数最高的为血雉(Ithaginis cruentus, RAI = 0.861)。本研究利用红外相机对拟建川藏铁路沿线(康定至巴塘段)
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