Blyth's Rosefinch

Carpodacus grandis (Blyth, 1849)

		male female
2014-02-09 Zhabagly. Southern Kazakhstan. 2014-02-08 Zhabagly. Southern Kazakhstan.	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds in Western Tien Shan on territory of Uzbekistan, in upper reaches of Pskem river (Maydantal and Charalma valleys) and in Chatkal ridge (Palatkhan, Karaarcha valleys). At 27 June, 8 and 25 July 2003 several birds recorded at Teparsay and Aksarsay, near 5 km of Kazakhstan’s border. In winter come down to foothills, up to Tashkent. In January-February 2014 recorded in Zhabagly village (Southern Kazakhstan).

Biology

Rare resident. Inhabits middle and upper parts of juniper belt on dry rocky slopes with Caragana, Lonicera and barberry bushes. Biology in Kazakhstan not known, but in Tadjikistan it lives at 2000-3000 m. In mid-May observed in pairs. Nest is built in juniper at 1.3 m above ground; nest is built from juniper bast and lined with thin grass and hair. Clutch of 4 eggs was found at 4 July 1963, independent juveniles observed in end June – early July.

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.
Рябицев В.К. (общ. ред.). Птицы Средней Азии: справочник-определитель: в 2 т. Москва; Екатеринбург: Кабинетный ученый, 2019