Nichaya Praditsup. Social behaviour and ecology of the Siamese fireback lophura diardi in Khao Yai National park, Thailand . Master's Degree(Environmental Biology). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2004.
Social behaviour and ecology of the Siamese fireback lophura diardi in Khao Yai National park, Thailand
Abstract:
The social behaviour and ecology of the near-threatened Siamese Fireback
Lophura diardi, a type of pheasant, was studied in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand
during May 2002 until April 2003. Flock-size of Siamese Fireback varied from 1 to 10
individuals with larger mixed-sex flocks during the non-breeding season (November to
January) (mean=4.6) and smaller flocks or pairs in the breeding season (March to
June) (mean=1.6).
Eight types of displays, wing-whirring, grunt-whirring, threatening, chasing,
fighting, courtship, submissive and displacement behaviour, and three types of
vocalizations were recorded. Aggressive interactions occurred between males more
often than males and females.
The wing-whirring display was performed chiefly by males (wing-whirring in
females was rare). Single males gave whirring displays more often than multiple-male
groups, while male-only groups performed whirring more often than mixed-sex
groups. The Siamese Fireback wing-whirred in the breeding season more than in the
non-breeding season (p<0.05). Wing-whirring in the Siamese Fireback was not
relevant to courtship behaviour but could be related to dominance hierarchy, territorial
advertisement, flocking signals and possibly mate attraction. Siamese Firebacks did
not appear to show harem polygyny. Apparent pair associations were seen during the
breeding season, suggesting that the breeding system was either monogamy or
sequential polygyny. Siamese Firebacks fed mainly on the ground and were
omnivorous. Aggressive interactions were recorded between Siamese Fireback and
both Silver Pheasant L. nycthemera and with Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus. There was
some dietary overlap and probably some direct competition among all three species