No Synonyms

Description

Common breeding migrant, locally numerous. Inhabits largely forested lakes, rivers, streams and marshes on plains and in mountains up to 2000 m on Altai. Appears end February – early March in southern areas, and end March – mid-April in the northern. Main migration in April and it finishes early May. Migrates in separate flocks up to some dozen specimens, often with other ducks. Nest is built on ground under shelter of grass or bushes in shallow hollow lined with dry grass and down. Clutches of 6-9 eggs mid-May – end June. Only female incubates. Juveniles hatch mid-June – mid-July, and begin flying from end July. Repeated breeds are common (downy chicks recorded mid-July, and not flying juveniles at end August – mid-September). While females incubate, males gather in flocks and fly away to moult on shallow steppe lakes in Central Kazakhstan. Such moult migration observed from mid-July. Autumn migration begins end August, most intensive movements second half September – early October. Some birds linger up to first decade of December.

Distribution

Occupies northern half of Kazakhstan, south to Ural'sk, Atbasar, Naurzum Reserve, Southwest Altai and Zaysan depression, but not nesting in Kurgaldzhin. Widespread on migration, occasionally in highlands (Bolshoye Almatinskoye lake, 27 August and 4-7 September 1971). Sometimes wintering in the south and south east of country, at once recorded at Kul'sary settle on Emba river.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.