No Synonyms

Description

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits bush thickets alternate with high grass patches and rare trees, on plains mainly or at low altitude in mountains. On migration visits steppe ravines, fields, kitchen-gardens, gardens, thickets of tall weeds and settlements. Arrives in second half of April – early May, migrates in small flocks of 5-50 specimens. Latest birds registered at Chokpak Pass 18 May 1968 and in Ile delta 30 May. Breeding in separate pairs not far from each other. Nest is built on ground under bush twigs or grass from dry grass and lives lined with soft grass, roots, and small amount of hairs and feathers, by female for 2-4 days. Clutches of 4-6 eggs found in mid-May – mid-July (repeated clutches after loss of first one). Only female incubates for 11-12 days. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge from mid-June onward. Autumn migration is early, from August. Many birds leave in end August – early September in flocks of some dozen birds, latest registered 11 October 1970 at Chokpak Pass, 22 October 1961 and 1 November 1958 in Volga-Ural area near Novaya Kazanka village.

Distribution

Breeding in northern half of Kazakhstan, in Ural valley down to Atyrau, in middle current of Emba river, in Kara-Turgay, Karkaralinsk, Tarbagatay, Kalbinskiy and Southwest Altai. In summer, observed on Alakol' lake, in foothills of Dzhungarskiy Alatau, Betpak-Dala. Not breeds in Kurgaldzhino Reserve. On migration occurs everywhere.

References

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