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Common breeding migrant. Inhabits bush thickets interspersed with areas of tall grass and free-standing trees, on plains mainly or in mountains at low altitudes. On migration occurs in steppe ravines, fields, kitchen-gardens, gardens, thickets of tall weeds and villages. In spring arrives in second half of April – early May, migrates in small flocks of 5-50 birds. Latest birds registered at Chokpak Pass May 18, 1968 and in Ile delta in May 30. Breeds in separate pairs close one to another. Nest is located on the ground under the bush twigs or in grass; nest is built for 2-4 days by female from the dry grass and leaves and is lined with soft grass, rootlets, and some of hairs and feathers. Clutch of 4-6 eggs is laid in mid-May – mid-July (re-nesting after loss of first clutch). Only female incubates clutch for 11-12 days. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge starting in mid-June. Autumn migration is early, begins in August. Most of birds fly off in end of August – early September in flocks of several dozen birds; latest birds registered in October 11, 1970 at Chokpak Pass, and in October 22, 1961 and November 1, 1958 in Volga-Ural interfluves near Novaya Kazanka village.

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. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.