Seasonal differences in habitat use in capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) in the West Carpathians

From 1981–2003, inter-seasonal differences in habitat use in the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus.) were studied in the West Carpathians (Slovakia). In the study area, the capercaillie population mostly occupied forest biocoenoses within the spruce-beech-fir and spruce vegetation belts. During the spring season (March – May), capercaillies preferred stands of the spruce-beech-fir vegetation belt (54% frequency location in cocks and 52% in hens, respectively). Fewer records were obtained from the biocoenoses of the spruce vegetation belt (34% frequency locations in males and 40% in females, respectively). Forests of the spruce vegetation belt were favoured by males during the autumn (October – November) and winter (December – February) seasons (60% frequency locations and 52%, respectively). In contrast, hens preferred forests of the spruce-beech-fir vegetation belt also during the summer (June – September) and autumn seasons (44% frequency locations and 40%, respectively). Seasonal differences in habitat selection in relation to forest age were also found. Both males and females preferred forests older than 80 years throughout the whole year.