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Abundant, in places common breeding migrant. Inhabits the riparian forests of plain and mountain rivers and streams, groves, gardens and single trees up to 2400 m (Talasskiy Alatau) or 1500-1700 m (Zailiyskiy Alatau). Appears in March (Syrdarya valley) or in mid-April – early May (foothills of Western Tien Shan) singly or in small groups up to 15 birds. Latest migrants recorded in mid – end May. Breeds in separate pairs at distance 50-100 m one from another. Elaborate hanging mitten-shaped nest is built at the tip of a thin hanging down twig of willow, poplar, birch, maple, russian olive, walnut, hawthorn or juniper tree, at height 1.5-12 m above the water or ground. Nest is constructed mostly by male with some female participation; nest is from grass bast and plant fluff (willow, poplar) partly twisted to thin threads and then used for nest construction. Clutch of 5-9, usually 6-8 eggs is laid in end of May to early July. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge from end June to end of July. Probably rears one brood per season, but re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. Autumn migration begins in mid-August – early September in flocks of 20-50 birds. At Chokpak Pass latest birds registered in end October.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 4. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1972. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.