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Breeds in Western, Northern and Eastern Kazakhstan. On migration occurs almost everywhere. Wintern in Southern Kazakhstan. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Numerous, in places rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the flood lands forests, groves, deciduous or mixed forest-patches in forest-steppe zone; near water (river or lake) especially overgrown by willow, poplar, birch, aspen. On migration occurs also on various tree-bush vegetation far from water. Appears in mid-March – mid-April, migration finishes in mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is built at the tip of a thin hanging down twig of willow, poplar, alder, birch and pine, at distance usually 2.5-3 m above the water or ground. Nest is constructed mainly by male from the grass bast and plant fluff (willow, poplar), or sometimes with sheep and camel hair. The entrance tube is built mainly by female. Clutch of 6-10 eggs is laid in early May to end of July. Female incubate clutch for 12-14 days, male regularly bring food to her. Only female feeds juveniles which fledge at age about three weeks old, in mid-June – early July. As soon as female feeds juveniles the male builds other nest and try to obtain another female. Probably rears one brood per season, but re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. Autumn migration begins in end of July in flocks of several dozen birds. Latest birds recorded in September. In southern areas (Syrdarya valley), observed in mid-October.

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.