Spotted Crake

Porzana porzana (Linnaeus, 1766)

		adult juvenile
2021-03-31 Aktau, Mangystau region 2015-09-01 Aktau, Mangystau	© Anna Yasko © Anna Yasko

Distribution

Breeds in northern part of Kazakhstan, in south to Kamysh-Samarskiye lakes and Karaganda, eastward to Semipalatinsk, Ayaguz and probably Markakol lake. On migration occurs everywhere.

Biology

Common, locally rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the marshes and wet meadows in river valleys, near fresh lakes with shrubs and reed-beds. In spring arrives in end March or early April in southern areas, latest migrants occur in end of May, but only in end April - early May in northern areas. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is located among the grass or on hummock; nest is built from dry grass. Clutches of 6-12 eggs is laid in end of April - May. Both parents incubate clutch for 18-21 days and care for chicks which hatch in June. Probably rears two broods per season. The autumn migration begins in mid-August - September and finishes in end of October - 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. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.