Northern Pintail

Anas acuta (Linnaeus, 1758)

2012-03-24 Sorbulak lake	© Gennadiy Dyakin

Distribution

Breeds in northern half of Kazakhstan south to Kamysh-Samarskiye lakes, lower reaches of Turgay and Zaysan depression, sporadically up to Almaty area (Sorbulak lake). Occasionally lives on mountain lakes (Markakol lake). Widespread on migration, sometimes winters to the south of Shymkent. A pair recorded on Sorbulak 15 December 2002.

Biology

Common, locally abundant breeding migrant. Inhabits steppe and semi-desert lakes and rivers with reed-beds, and very rarely forested lakes in Altai up to 1500 m. Appears very early, with first thawed patches surrounded by snow when lakes are still covered with ice. In southern areas arrives end February – early March; in more northerly areas March or early April. Migrates in separate flocks, mostly in tens and hundreds, males are dominant. Latest records in southern areas end May. Nest is built in a dry place near water, but in some cases up to 6 km away, under canopy of grass or bush in shallow hollow lined with grass stems and down. Clutches of 6-10 eggs from end April, but mostly May or early June. Female incubates 22-23 days. Juveniles hatch end May – mid-July, and begin to fly from mid-June, late broods observed first decade of August. Repeat broods after loss of clutch are common (mid – end June). When females begin to incubate males gather in flocks and migrate for moult in steppe and semi-desert lakes in Northern and Central Kazakhstan mainly end May – June. Females moult whilst with brood. Autumn migration not so obvious as in spring, and begins end August, mostly in September. Main movements in October, and some birds linger to end November.

Subspecies

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.