Eurasian Stone Curlew

Burhinus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult chicks
2016-05-09 Kyzylkumy 2016-05-08 Kyzylkum	© Gennadiy Dyakin © Boris Gubin

Distribution

Breeds and occurs on migration in southern part of Kazakhstan, in north to Kamysh-Samar lakes, Ilek mouth, lower reaches of Turgay river, Northern Trans-Balkhash area and Zaysan depression. In Kurgaldzhino on May 29, 1979 the breeding female laid one egg was obtained. Near Semipalatinsk observed in groups (probably broods) 24 July. Vagrant occurs in Naurzum Reserve.

Biology

Common, in places rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the clay deserts, saline-soil lands with wormwood, saltwart and sparse saxaul or tamarisk shrubs; rare lives in sandy and stony deserts; often inhabits the lands near the water. In spring arrives in small groups at night in March or mid-April. Breeds in separate pairs. Doesn't build the nest, eggs are laid on the bare saline soil or to the shallow hole in sand. Female incubates mostly at night, but during the day time Stone Curlews leave the nest for a long time, and eggs are warmed by sun only. Male doesn’t take part in incubation but stays nearby. Clutch of 2 eggs is produced in the end of April or in early May. Chicks hatch in end May – early June, and begin to fly in July. Autumn migration begins in the end of August and finishes in mid-end September. In autumn passage the flocks up to one hundred and more birds were recorded.

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.