Abstract: Population distribution and habitat quality of wildlife are fundamental to the stability of species populations and crucial for the conservation of wildlife, especially for the threatened species. The Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) is a national firstclass key protected wildlife species in China. It is urgent to strengthen the habitat suitability assessment of this species. This study was conducted from June 2023 to May 2024 in the Anhui Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve. Transect surveys and infrared camera monitoring were used to collect distribution data on the Reeves’s pheasant. Based on the collected environmental variable data, the MaxEnt model was applied to examine habitat suitability and identify influencing factors during the pre-breeding, breeding, post-breeding, and wintering periods. The results showed that there were 461±69 Reeves’s pheasants in the study area, with an average population density of 3.75 ± 0.56 ind·km^-2, primarily distributed in the southern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the reserve. Peak activity periods occurred during the wintering and pre-breeding seasons, with the most frequent presence recorded in coniferous forest habitats. The model projections indicated that the suitable habitat area for the Reeves’s pheasant varied across different periods, with the largest area during the wintering season measuring 70.48 km² and accounting for 57.30% of the protected area. The suitable habitat areas for the pre-breeding, post-breeding, and breeding seasons decreased sequentially, with 67.72 km² (55.06%), 66.85 km² (54.35%), and 64.74 km² (52.63%) respectively. The spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of the suitable habitat were consistent in different periods, primarily distributed in the southern, eastern, and northeastern parts of the reserve. Forest trails, vegetation types, and residential areas were the main determinants of habitat during the pre-breeding and breeding periods, with the characteristics of being less than 200 m away from forest trails, coniferous forest habitats, and 50-500 m away from residential areas. Forest trails, vegetation types, and slope were the main environmental factors affecting habitat suitability during the post-breeding and wintering periods, with the characteristics of being 200-250 m away from forest trails, 400-500 m away from residential areas, and a slope of 4°-20°. Regions with an altitude of 750-1200 m, close to water sources, better vegetation growth, and sloping sunny and semi-sunny slopes were also important areas of activity. By revealing the habitat characteristics of Reeves’s pheasant, our results provide theoretical basis for formulating scientifically sound conservation and management measures.

Key words: Syrmaticus reevesii, population dynamics, habitat suitability, MaxEnt model, Anhui Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve