Establishing the specific habitat requirements of forest specialists in fragmented natural habitats is vital for their conservation. We used camera-trap surveys and microhabitat-scale covariates to assess the habitat requirements, probability of occupancy and detection of two terrestrial forest specialist species, the Orange Ground-thrush Geokichla gurneyi and the Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata during the breeding and non-breeding seasons of 2018–2019 in selected Southern Mistbelt Forests of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A series of camera-trap surveys over 21 days were conducted in conjunction with surveys of microhabitat structural covariates. During the wet season, percentage of leaf litter cover, short grass cover, short herb cover, tall herb cover and saplings 0–2 m, stem density of trees 6–10 m and trees 16–20 m were significant structural covariates for influencing Lemon Dove occupancy. In the dry season, stem density of 2–5 m and 10–15 m trees, percentage tall herb cover, short herb cover and 0–2 m saplings were significant covariates influencing Lemon Dove occupancy. Stem density of trees 2–5 m and 11–15 m, percentage of short grass cover and short herb cover were important site covariates influencing Orange Ground-thrush occupancy in the wet season. Our study highlighted the importance of a diverse habitat structure for both forest species. A high density of tall/mature trees was an essential microhabitat covariate, particularly for sufficient cover and food for these ground-dwelling birds. Avian forest specialists play a vital role in providing ecosystem services perpetuating forest habitat functioning. Conservation of the natural heterogeneity of their habitat is integral to management plans to prevent the decline of such species.

在支离破碎的自然栖息地中确定森林专家的特定栖息地要求对于它们的保护至关重要。我们使用相机陷阱调查和微生境尺度协变量来评估两种陆地森林专业物种（橙色地鸫Geokichla gurneyi和 Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata ）的栖息地要求、占用概率和检测在 2018-2019 年的繁殖和非繁殖季节，在南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省和东开普省选定的南雾带森林。与对微生境结构协变量的调查一起进行了 21 天的一系列相机陷阱调查。在雨季，凋落物覆盖率、短草覆盖率、短草本覆盖率、高草本覆盖率和 0-2 m 的树苗、6-10 m 和 16-20 m 的树木茎密度是影响柠檬的显着结构协变量鸽子入住。在旱季，2-5 m 和 10-15 m 树木的茎密度、高草本覆盖率、短草本覆盖率和 0-2 m 树苗是影响柠檬鸽占用率的显着协变量。树木的茎密度 2-5 m 和 11-15 m，短草覆盖率和短草本覆盖率是影响雨季橙色地鸫占有率的重要场地协变量。我们的研究强调了多样化栖息地结构对这两种森林物种的重要性。高密度/成熟的树木是一个重要的微生境协变量，特别是为这些地面栖息的鸟类提供足够的覆盖和食物。鸟类森林专家在提供生态系统服务以维持森林栖息地功能方面发挥着至关重要的作用。保护其栖息地的自然异质性是防止此类物种减少的管理计划的组成部分。特别是为这些陆栖鸟类提供足够的遮盖物和食物。鸟类森林专家在提供生态系统服务以维持森林栖息地功能方面发挥着至关重要的作用。保护其栖息地的自然异质性是防止此类物种减少的管理计划的组成部分。特别是为这些陆栖鸟类提供足够的遮盖物和食物。鸟类森林专家在提供生态系统服务以维持森林栖息地功能方面发挥着至关重要的作用。保护其栖息地的自然异质性是防止此类物种减少的管理计划的组成部分。