Pine Bunting

Emberiza leucocephala (S.G.Gmelin, 1771)

		male female
2017-03-05 confluence of rivers Kashka-suu and Ala-archa, Chuy region 2017-03-20 Besh-Kungey mountains, Chuy region	© Sergey Toropov © Sergey Toropov

Biology

Common breeding migrant, in non-breeding areas common winter visitor. Inhabits the coniferous and mixed forests with bush undergrowth and tall grass at altitudes 600-2000 m; on migration and wintering occurs in open lands with shrubs and trees, in shelterbelts, gardens, thickets of tall weeds and in villages. The spring migration in southern Kazakhstan begins in mid-February - early March in flocks of up to 30-40 birds and finishes in mid-April. In northern areas Pine Buntings appears in end of March – early April, migration finishes in the end of April. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is located on the ground under the bush or grass; nest is built from the dry grass and leaves and is lined with thin stems and sometimes with hair. Probably only female builds nest. Clutch of 4-5, rarely 6 eggs is laid in May to mid-July. Only female incubates clutch. Both parents feed nestling. Rears two broods per season. Autumn migration begins in September - early October in flocks of 10-70 birds (often together with Yellowhammer), and finishes in early November.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Издательство Уральского университета, 2000.