Little Bittern

Ixobrychus minutus (Linnaeus, 1766)

		male male in flight female juvenile
2019-05-01 Sorbulak, Almaty region 2013-06-21 VKO2018-05-15 Kanshengel, Almaty region2013-08-03 Sorbulak lake, Almaty region	© Gennadiy Dyakin © Viktor Kolesnikov© Gennadiy Dyakin© Antonina Fokina

Distribution

Breeds and migrates on plain waters, in north to Uralsk, Utva-Ilek interfluves, Naurzum Reserve, Kurgaldzhino Reserve, Semipalatinsk and Zaysan lake. In June 1986 recorded in Irtysh valley near Chernoe village. During migration occurs mostly on plains, but many birds recorded in foothills of Western Tien Shan.

Biology

Common, in places abundant breeding migrant. Inhabits the plain rivers, ponds and small lakes with the reed-beds, bushes and trees. In spring arrives singly or in small groups in early April - early May, migration finishes in mid-May. Breeds in separate pairs sometimes not far one from another. Nest is located in reeds very close to water (up to 0.5 m above), nest is built from the reed stems and leaves; in case of locating of the nest on bushes or trees (at a height of 3 meters), birds use to construction the dry twigs and the dry grass for lining. Clutch of 4-9 eggs is produced in May. Both parents incubate for 16-19 days, and then feed nestlings, day and night. At the age of 17-18 days the chicks in alarm already leave the nest, but come back some later. Flying juveniles observed from the end of July to early September. Autumn migration in small flocks begins in mid-end of August, but mostly in September. Odd birds linger end September, but in southern areas birds seen in end October or even in early 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.