No Synonyms

Description

Common, locally numerous, breeding migrant. Inhabits fresh and salty lakes with reed-beds and large areas of open deep water on plains. Arrives somewhat later, than other ducks, rarely in end February but mostly in March – mid-April. Migration finishes in mid-May. Migrating in small (one-two dozen) flocks, in pairs and singly. Nest is built in shallow hollow from dry grass stems and down, on ground near water under cover of bushes, or more often in reed-clamps among water, from dry reed leaves and lined with down. Breeds in separate pairs or in small groups of 5-15 pairs close together often with White-eyed Pochard. Clutches of 5-12 eggs in second half of April, but mostly in May. Female builds nest and incubates 28 days roughly. Juveniles hatch from mid-May to early July. They fly end of July – late August. After females begin to incubate, males gather on lakes with deep water and reed beds in big numbers and moult here (end June – July). Autumn migration in big flocks (up to hundred and more) begins September and from northern areas they leave mid - end October. In southern areas they migrate in October up to water freezing.

Distribution

Breeds mostly in the south of Kazakhstan, to north up to Kamysh-Samarskiye lakes, Ilek river, Kustanay, Kokchetav, Semipalatinsk and Chernyy Irtysh river. On dispersal and migration seen throughout, sometimes winters south of Turkestan. On Sorbulak lake 36 birds recorded 1 December 2002.

References

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