Race:
Sitta tephronota tephronota Sharpe, 1872

Synonyms

Sitta tephronota subcaeruleus Meinertzhagen, 1938

Description

Common resident. Inhabits rocky gorges with cliffs and rocks on mountain slopes without forest usually, at 400-2000 m, where occurs all the year. Breeding in separate pairs fairly far from each other. Nest is built on rock or rarely on grave clay monument, at 1-30 m above ground, from clay, and resembles a jug attached to a rock by bottom. Its weight can be 3-5, up to 18 kilogram. Nest chamber lined with dry grass, feathers and hair. Both parents construct nest, which used in subsequent years too. Clutches of 4-9, usually 5-7 eggs in early April – first decade of June. Female incubates only, and male feed her. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge in mid-May – end July. A fairly long time broods not break up (up to September), but most of the year birds live singly.

Distribution

Breeding in Western Tien Shan (Pskemskiy and Ugamskiy ridges, Talasskiy Alatau, Kazgurt, Borolday, southern part of Karatau), in Kirgizskiy and western part of Zailiyskiy Alatau up to Chemolgan gorge, Turaygyr and Charyn canyon, in Chu-Iliyskiye Mts., in Dzhungarskiy Alatau and its spurs (Malay Sary, Chulak, Kalkany, Matay), north up to Abakumovka. Breeding also in mountain remains Pistelitau in Southern Kyzylkum desert. On dispersal it not observed outside breeding area. One bird recorded on Chokpak Pass in forest-belt 3 May 2005.

References

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