White-crowned Penduline Tit

Remiz coronatus (Severtzov, 1873)

		male female juvenile
2011-05-21 Ile region, Almaty oblast 2013-04-28 Zhana-Arna Village, Almaty Province2011-07-03 Akterek, Zhetyzhol ridge, Zhambyl region, Almaty oblast	© Askar Isabekov © Aibek Adilmagambetov© Raufael Bairashev

Distribution

Breeds and occurs on migration in Syrdarya valley to delta, in riparian forest in Western and Northern Tien Shan (Pskem, Ugam, Talasskiy and Zailiyskiy Alatau), in Dzhungarskiy Alatau near Topolevka village, and also in lowers of Chernyy Irtysh, Kuludzhun, Kurchum, Kaldzhir, Narym rivers; in foothills of Southern Altai, including Markakol lake, and in Kalbinskiy Altai. Occasionally wintering in Almaty area.

Biology

Abundant, in places common breeding migrant. Inhabits the riparian forests of plain and mountain rivers and streams, groves, gardens and single trees up to 2400 m (Talasskiy Alatau) or 1500-1700 m (Zailiyskiy Alatau). Appears in March (Syrdarya valley) or in mid-April – early May (foothills of Western Tien Shan) singly or in small groups up to 15 birds. Latest migrants recorded in mid – end May. Breeds in separate pairs at distance 50-100 m one from another. Elaborate hanging mitten-shaped nest is built at the tip of a thin hanging down twig of willow, poplar, birch, maple, russian olive, walnut, hawthorn or juniper tree, at height 1.5-12 m above the water or ground. Nest is constructed mostly by male with some female participation; nest is from grass bast and plant fluff (willow, poplar) partly twisted to thin threads and then used for nest construction. Clutch of 5-9, usually 6-8 eggs is laid in end of May to early July. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge from end June to end of July. Probably rears one brood per season, but re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. Autumn migration begins in mid-August – early September in flocks of 20-50 birds. At Chokpak Pass latest birds registered in end October.

Subspecies

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 4. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1972. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.