Races:
Ardea purpurea purpurea Linnaeus, 1766

No Synonyms

Description

Common, in places accidental breeding migrant. Inhabits lakes with rich reed-beds and shallow water, seldom visited by people. Arrives early April – early May. On Mangyshlak, where they do not nest, migration is very obvious (singly and groups of 5-7 birds) from mid-May, last birds recorded mid – end June. Lives in pairs and in small colonies, sometimes together with Grey Heron, Great Egret and Spoonbill. Nest is built by both partners on heaps of old reeds from reed stems and leaves, thorn twigs also used if available. Clutches of 3-5, occasionally 6 eggs, found from early May to mid-June. Both parents incubate 24-28 days and feed juveniles, which fly at roughly from July – early August. Migrates in September; singles recorded up to mid-October. Not wintering in Kazakhstan.

Distribution

Occupies reservoirs on plains, north up to Kamysh-Samarskiye lakes (though nests not found recently); lower reaches of Turgay river and probably Kurgaldzhin lakes, where they were recorded 14 April 1968, 8-9 April 1977 and 27 April 1980 in spring and autumn; Ile river delta. Singles seen near Tavolzhan village in Pavlodarskoye Trans-Irtysh'e. Occasionally observed in autumn in foothills of Western Tien Shan (5 October 1976).

References

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