Abstract: A survey on birds was carried out in Maoershan National Nature Reserve between July 2014 and June 2015. There were 9 orders and 31 families and 124 species with line transect surveys and camera traps. Based on line transect surveys, 115 bird species were detected, belonging to 9 orders and 31 families, with eight species as category Ⅱ state key protected wild animals. Using camera trap, 30 bird species were recorded-including 9 species not detected by using line transect surveys-which included five orders and eight families, with one species as category Ⅰ state key protected wild animals and four species as category Ⅱ state key protected. It is found that the number of bird species declines with increasing elevation. Results indicate that line transect and camera trap monitoring methods are both suitable for investigating the bird communities within Nature Reserves, and that camera trap can identify species undetected by line transect surveys with more accurate and comprehensive management for Nature Reserves.

Key words: Maoershan National Nature Reserve, bird diversity, spatial distribution pattern