Corn Bunting

Emberiza calandra (Linnaeus, 1758)

2011-05-28 Kastek gorge, Zailisky Alatau ridge, Almaty oblast	© Raufael Bairashev

Distribution

Breeds, occurs on migration and wintering in Southern and South-Eastern Kazakhstan. In occasion occurs in Western Kazakhstan. Please see detailed distribution in the section Subspecies.

Biology

Common, in places numerous resident, some birds are short-distance migrants. Inhabits the meadows, height-grass bushy steppes at altitudes up to 2000-2800 m, and the agricultural fields adjoined to foothills. On migration occurs in shelterbelts, kitchen-gardens and thickets of tall weeds. Spring migration is well defined in foothills of Western Tien Shan where birds migrate in mid-February - March (first wave) and in end of April – mid-May (second wave). Probably the second wave of migration consists of first-year, second-year specimens, or birds nesting in mountains. On breeding sites appears in mid-February to mid-April. Breeds in separate pairs, quite a close one to another. Nest is located on the ground under the grass or bush; nest is built from the dry grass and is lined with the thin grass and some hair. Clutch of 4-5 eggs is laid in mid-May – June, fledglings were observed from early June to middle of August. Only female incubates clutch for 12-13 days; juveniles feed by both parents and fledge at age 9-12 days old. In the second half of July males stop singing. Autumn migration begins in end of August – early September. At Chokpak Pass the first autumn wave of migrants registered in first ten days of September, the second one from second ten days of October up to end of this month.

Subspecies

Emberiza calandra calandra (Linnaeus, 1758) Description. Upper parts are some darker, dark strips on mantle and upper breast are broader than in buturlini. Distribution. Breeds on Mangyshlak in Ulanak valley in 1965. On shore of Mangyshlak Bay singing male observed 26 April 2004. Near Kenderli two small flocks observed in end of October 2002. Occasionally occurs in Western Kazakhstan - 80 km in west from Chapaevo (May 21, 1957), Atyrau, Uralsk, Orenburg, Fort-Shevchenko (April 04, 2012).

Emberiza calandra buturlini (Неrmаnn Johansen, 1907) Description. Upper parts are some lighter, dark strips on mantle and upper breast are narrower than in calandra. Distribution. Breeds and migrates in foothills and in low mountains of south and south-east Kazakhstan, from Pistelitau mountains (Kyzylkum desert), Tien Shan (including foothills of Kungey ridge) and Karatau to Ile valley and foothills of Dzhungarskiy Alatau in Kapal. It was pointed as nesting in Syrdarya delta, however later not found. Several times recorded at Kurgaldzhino Reserve. In winter occurs in Karachengil on southern coast of Kapchagay reservoir, in northern foothills of Zailiyskiy Alatau and in middle current of Chu river.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 5. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1974. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.