Abstract:We observed the behavior of two pairs of Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius) which reproduced in artificial nests (Fig. 1) by using the focal sampling method during April to September, 2015 in Qilian County, Qinghai Province. The study area is located in Qilian Mts (37o56′﹣37°59′ N, 100°12′﹣100°15′ E) with the altitude of 3 650 m. Binoculars and video cameras were used to observe and record the behavior of the buzzards from 8:00﹣18:00, and we made observation on the 2 nests by turn for every two days. Observations were carried out at a distance about 50 m from the nests for 119 days (882 h valid); and video cameras, covered by branches, were set beside each nest to record constantly for 100 days (1 063 h valid). The breeding season lasted 112.0 ± 2.0 d (n = 2) from April to August, and it was divided into pre-incubation period, incubation period (43.3 ± 2.0 d), parental-care period (49.4 ± 4.3 d) and nestling-mature period (16.2 ± 4.9 d) (Table 1). We defined the behavior of the Upland Buzzard by the postures and actions, and classified thirty behaviors grouped under 12 categories for parents and 25 behaviors grouped under 9 categories for nestlings according to motivations and functions. We analyzed the behavior time budget and tested the differences of time budget spent in major categories by male and female between different periods by the One-way ANOVA test. We found that: (1) there was no significant difference between the time budget of male and female during pre-incubation or incubation period while there were significant differences during parental-care and nestling-mature period. The females spent more time in resting (P < 0.01) and less time in predating (P < 0.01) than the males during the two periods. (2) The general time budget of females was significantly different between different periods (P < 0.05); and the general time budget of males was not significantly different between parental-care and nestling-mature period (P > 0.05), however, it was between other periods (P < 0.05) (Table 2). (3) Time budget of nestlings was significantly different between parental-care and nestling-mature period (P < 0.05) (Table 3).