Issues and Trends of Wildlife Conservation in Northeast India 2014 233 ISBN 978-81-924321-7-5 Grey Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum, as a probable candidate for Ecological Indicator in Tropical Montane Forest of Mizoram, Northeast India H. Lalthanzara 1 *, Lalawmawia Sailo 1 , G.S. Solanki 2 , and S.N. Ramanujam 3 R.K. Lallianthanga 4 and Lalbiakmawia 5 1 Department of Zoology, Pachhunga University College, Aizawl 796001, India 2 Department of Zoology, Mizoram University, Tanhril, Aizawl 796004, India 3 Department of Zoology, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong 793022, India 4,5 Mizoram Remote Sensing Application Centre, Chaltlang 796012, Aizawl, Mizoram *Email: hzara.puc@gmail.com Abstract We investigate the habitat selection of Grey Peacock Pheasant, Polyplectron bicalcaratum (Varihaw in Mizo) in Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS), north eastern site of Mizoram, north east India. After preliminary field investigation the northern periphery of LWS, primary forest (PF) and its adjacent area comprising the fallow land (FL) and secondary forest (SF) were selected for intensive study area. The intensive study area PF was 10 Km 2 with evergreen broadleaved forest, deep gorges, and steep slopes. Transects were laid in the study area and are walked twice a month for 12 months. Different environmental variables, details of vegetations and sex, age and number of the birds were properly recorded. It was observed that P. bicalcaratum selects habitat with thick primary forest with dense canopy as well as good underground cover other than secondary forest. Thus, the presence of P. bicalcaratum served as an indicator of undisturbed thick canopy with dense shrubs forest. The detail habitat of P. bicalcaratum and its uses as ecological indicator are discussed. Keywords: Grey Peacock Pheasant, Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary, habitat, ecological indicator, Mizoram. Introduction Grey Peacock Pheasants are the most widely distributed of all peacock pheasants occurring over most of mainland south-east Asia. They are traditionally classified as belonging to the sub-family phasianinae of the family phasianidae. The sub-family includes the most charismatic members of the order galliformes, a diverse group of birds commonly referred to as game birds. The family Phasianidae is characterized by strong sexual dimorphism with the males being highly ornate with bright colours and adornments such as wattles and long tails and usually larger than females. The species is represented by four subspecies, viz. i) Polyplectron bicalcaratum bakeri (Lowe, 1925), a Bhutan Grey Pheasant more widely known as Himalayan Grey Peacock Pheasant, is the palest and greyest form; ii) P. b. bailyi (Rothschild, 1906), a Hainan Grey Peacock Pheasant is considered a separate species by Beebe (1918-1922); iii) P. b. bicalcaratum (Linnaeus, 1758), a Burmese Grey Peacock Pheasant is dark brown and buff coloured specimens; and iv) P. b. ghigii (Delacour and Jabouille, 1924), a Ghigi’s Grey Peacock Pheasant, browner than P.b. bicalcaratum with buff coloured surrounds on the tail ocelli. In India the species has been recorded as commonly distributed in the central and eastern Himalayas from Sikkim through Arunachal Pradesh and north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. Generally the bird inhabits both evergreen and deciduous forests with thick undergrowth in the plains and foothills however its upper distribution is debated. They are fairly abundant in thick