No Synonyms

Description

Common, in places rare breeding migrant. Inhabits shallow water of steppe lakes, marshy meadows, steppe rivers with slow current, well covered by surface vegetation. Arrives in early – mid-May in small flocks of 10-20, up to 30 birds rare. Breeding in colonies of 10-20, up to 200 pairs, together with Little Gull especially, but with Black-necked Grebe and waders too. Nest is built on dry reed heaps, tussocks or among marsh grass from dry grass, at 1-3 m one of other. Clutches of 1-4, usually 2-3 eggs in end May or June. Flying juveniles recorded in mid-July – early August. Autumn migration early, mostly in August, some birds linger until mid-September.

Distribution

Breeds in northern half of plain Kazakhstan, south up to Kamysh-Samarskiye lakes and Tuma between Volga and Ural rivers, northern Caspian Sea area), lower reaches of Irgiz river, Balkhash-Alakol’ (Grachev, 1968) and Zaysan depressions. Probably breeds also on lakes of Emba delta. On migration recorded everywhere.

References

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