Order CICONIIFORMES | Family ARDEIDAE |
Nycticorax nycticorax Linnaeus, 1758 Black-crowned Night Heron Races:
Nycticorax nycticorax kwakwa S.D.Gmelin, 1771
Common breeding migrant. Inhabits rivers and lakes with trees and bushes growing on islands or in water on plains and in foothills. Occasionally nests on reservoirs, only where reed-beds are available. Appears end March – early April, but sometimes only in mid-April. It migrates singly or in small flocks, calling regularly. Migration finishes early – mid-May. Breeding begins mid-April – May. Usually lives in colonies, frequently together with Cormorant and Grey Heron, less often in independent groups. Nests are built on bushes and trees (Asiatic Poplar, Willow, Russian Olive, Elm) at 5-10 m above ground, usually lower than other birds, very rarely among reeds. Both partners build it from dry twigs or reed stems, flat inner cup scantly lined with dry grass. Clutches of 2-5, more often 4 eggs, found end April – mid-June. Incubation lasts 21-22 days. Repeat clutches after destruction observed even in second half of July. Juveniles hatch early May, both parents feed them. Flying young (at about one month old) sometimes seen end May (on Syrdarya river at Chinaz), but usually in June – July. Dispersal begins in August, autumn migration peaks in September, and last birds recorded at early – end October.
Occupies lakes and reservoirs in southern half of Kazakhstan north, to north-east coast of Caspian Sea, lower reaches of Ural river, Raygorodok village in Trans-Ural'e, lower reaches of Turgay river, Kurgaldzhino (not observed recently) and Alakol' depression. In 1985 nesting was proved for Zaysan depression on Chernyy Irtysh delta. On migration occurs everywhere excluding arid deserts and highlands, but yearly recorded in foothills of Western Tien Shan. Not wintering in Kazakhstan.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005
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