Eurasian Honey-Buzzard

Pernis apivorus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult juvenile flying
2013-05-27 Korgalzhyn village, Aqmola province 2012-09-28 Mangystau oblast, Tubkaragan region2011-05-06 Almaty oblast - Taukum sands - Konshengel village	© Ruslan Urazaliyev © Aisagali Kadirov© Machiel Valkenburg

Distribution

Breeds occasionally in Southern Altai in Bukhtarma valley (brood recorded 20 July 2001); probably in Malaya Ulba valley and on Markakol lake. Also lives in middle part of Ural valley. Probably episodically breeds in Naurzum Reserve. Isolated nests are known for Mugodzhary Mts., in Urkach forest. On migration occurs widespread.

Biology

Very rare breeding migrant, but common on migration. Inhabits deciduous and riparian forests in plains and mountains up to 1500 m in Altai. Appears late, in mid - end April, latest migrants were observed in May. Nest is built in trees from dry twigs and small twigs with leaf which are often found in nest cup. Clutches of 2-4 eggs is in end of May, chicks hatch in end of June to July, and begin to fly in end of July to August. Autumn migration begins in end of August and continues during September; in southern areas (Chokpak Pass) where it very common birds were recorded until end of October (22 October 1971). As in spring, they migrate singly or in small groups, often together with Buzzards.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург, Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.
Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999.