Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		male female juvenile
2017-04-29 Oiyl-Kopa riber. Western Kazakhstan. 2017-04-29 Oiyl-Kopa riber. Western Kazakhstan.2018-08-19 Sorbulak. Almaty oblast.	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov© Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds and occurs on migration widely on plains and in foothills. Occasionally winters in southern and south-eastern Kazakhstan.

Biology

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits the damp meadows or shores of lakes and rivers with tall grass, reed-beds and shrubs. In southern mountains don’t nests above 1500-2000 m. Appears end March or early April in southern parts of Kazakhstan, and mid-end April in northern ones. Nest is built from dry grass stems on ground amongst tall weeds, dry reed beds or under bushes. Clutches of 3-8 (often 4) eggs is in May – June. Female incubate for about 30 days, male feed it. Both parents feed juveniles, which begin fly in age 35 days, in mid-July – early August. Autumn migration is from mid-August; most birds migrate in first decade September.

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.