Characteristics of the avian communities at Mt.Yuntaishan of Guizhou Province,China

Bird surveys were carried out at Mt.Yuntaishan in Guizhou Province from Sept. 2011 to Aug.2012,with line transect,point-counting and mist-netting detection.A total of 94 bird species was recorded,which belonged to 33 families and 11 orders.Among the bird species recorded,4 species were in the Grade II national key protected list.Birds in families of Turdidae and Timaliidae were richest,and birds in families of Timaliidae and Pycnonotidae were most abundant.Alcippe morrisonia and Yuhina castaniceps were dominant species.By comparing the species,number,Shannon-Weiner Index(H),Simpson Index(D) and Pielou Index(J)among the four seasons,the results indicated that birds in spring had highest species,and lowest D and J.Birds in summer had lowest number,and highest H,D and J.Birds in winter had highest number,and lowest species and H.The similarity index of spring-autumn avian communities was the highest while that of summer-winter was the lowest.The Bray-Curtis index of summerwinter avian communities was the highest while that of autumn-winter was the lowest.The birds at Mt.Yuntaishan were not obviously disturbed by human beings,but probably were affected by some natural factors,such as climatic zone northward excursion of China.