Order PASSERIFORMES | Family EMBERIZIDAE |
Common, in places numerous breeding migrant. Inhabits meadows and steppe with bushes, both on plains and in mountains up to 1400-2800 m, and near agriculture fields, irrigated channels and river valleys. On migration visits forest-belts, riparian forest, groves, gardens and thickets of tall weeds. In southern areas, appears in end April or early – mid May, and in second half of May in northern ones. Migrates in flocks of 10-30 birds by morning. Breeding in separate pairs not far one of other. Nest is build for 2-4 days from green and old grass and lined with dry herb leaves and shrub bast. Only female builds the nest and male escort her only. It is placed in various bushes and juniper tree near the ground or up to 4 m above, or in grass, in 1-2 cm above ground often. Clutches of 2-5 or very rarely 6 eggs incubated by female for 10-14 days. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at 12-13 days old. The opinion about two broods per year not proved, but long breeding period (nests with eggs found from mid-May till mid-July) explained by high destruction of nests and repeated breeding. Autumn migration is early, northern areas leave in mid- or end July. Migrates mainly by night probably. At Chokpak Pass mass migration observed only once, 30-31 August 1992, when adults and juveniles fly by morning in flocks of 30-70 birds and record number of 530 Red-headed Bunting ringed. Rarely singly and in small groups observed here up to end of September and latest bird caught 11 October 1971.
Breeding and also occurs on migration in the most Kazakhstan, north up to Dzhanybek station and Bolshoy Uzen at Mokrinskoye village in Volga-Ural area, 90 km south of Uralsk, in Ilek-Utva area, Aktobe steppes, Naurzum Reserve, Kurgaldzhinskaya depression, at Pavlodarskoye Trans-Irtysh'e, in Semipalatinsk area, Kalbinskiy Altai, at foothills of Southwest Altai and in Saur.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
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