No Synonyms

Description

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits steppe and desert with rocky outcrops or clay-stone precipices, low mountains with rocky gorges and foothills of main ridges. Prefers areas, where grass plain or hills with numerous locusts and other insects. Appears in March, but mostly in April. Migrates in loose flocks or small groups. Latest birds at Chokpak Pass observed in mid-May. Breeds in colonies of one-two dozen, but separate pairs are not rare. Nest is built in rock or clay cavity, between stones or in any cavity under bridge, in old houses, sheep-folds or grave constructions. No special materials are used for nest. Old Dove nest is used rare. Clutches of 2-7, usually 4-5 eggs in end April – May or in early June (may be late nesting of first-breeders). Females incubate mainly, but males change them for short time (they have brood patches too) and feed them. Incubation lasts 24-28 days. In one colony nests with fresh eggs and juveniles of different age can be found in the same time. Both parents feed juveniles, which hatch in end May – June and fledge at 35-40 days old, in July – August. Repeated breeding after loss of clutches is possible. Post-breeding dispersal begins from end June, when flocks of Lesser Kestrel migrate to northern areas with plenty food (observed in Central Kazakhstan). Autumn migration to south begins in August. At Chokpak Pass first birds appear in end August – early September, main migration in September, up to 60 birds sitting on stationary traps 25 August 2003. Birds migrate in loose flocks or groups, when foraging, but passage fly is carried out in dense flocks of some dozen specimens (observed at Kshi Kaindy Pass, Talasskiy Alatau, 3000 m). On roosting one-two thousand birds can be observed in suitable place. Latest birds registered until mid-October.

Distribution

Breeds everywhere, excluding sandy deserts and highlands. At recent years two small colonies recorded in steppe valley on Narym river. On migration occurs everywhere, in Western Tien Shan up to above 3000 m.

References

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