Variable Wheatear

Oenanthe picata (Blyth, 1847)

Biology

Very rare breeding migrant. Inhabits dry desert mountains, and clayey soil and conglomerate precipices near rivers, clay house ruins. In spring arrives in March probably. Nest is built in rock cracks, precipice cavities, in old Rock Nuthatch nest from dry grass lined with shrub or grass bast and sometimes with hair and feathers. When in rock, small stones are placed under front of nest (its weight 193 g in one case). Probably only female builds it. Clutches of 4-8 eggs found in April – mid-June. Female incubates for 12 days. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at 13-14 days old. Probably two broods. Autumn migration begins early, latest birds recorded in early September.

References

Рябицев В. К., Ковшарь А. Ф., Ковшарь В. А., Березовиков Н. Н. «Полевой определитель птиц Казахстана», Алматы, 2014. "Птицы Казахстана" том 3, "Наука", Алма-Ата, 1970. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.