Rustic Bunting

Emberiza rustica (Pallas, 1776)

		male female autumn
2015-02-11 Almatinskaja obl. okrest. g. Taldykorgana r. Karatal 2013-10-10 Korgalzhyn2013-10-13 Almaty area. Balkhash lake.	© Alexandr Belyaev © Alexandr Fedulin© Andrey Kovalenko

Distribution

Probably breeds on Altai where singing male was observed close to Ridder (26 June 1971) and in Ust-Kamenogorsk vicinity (since 1983). On migration occurs from Volga-Ural interfluves, Ural valley (down to Atyrau), Mangyshlak, Naurzum Reserve (11-17 September 1972), lower reaches of Turgay river (11 and 20 April 1975) eastward to Markakol lake, Zharkent, foothills of Western Tien Shan (Chokpak Pass), and lower reaches of Sarysu river (10 September 1982). In winter observed at Berezovka village on Irtysh valley, at Zharkent, near Almaty and Shymkent.

Biology

Rare passage migrant or winter visitor, or probably resident. Inhabits marshy fir-forests, on migration occurs in riparian forests, steppe bush thickets, gardens, thickets of tall-weeds and in shelter-belts. In spring observed in lower Turgay river (11 and 20 April 1975), one male was shot near Kustanay (4 April 1922), but in autumn singles and small flocks up to 10-15 birds were regullarly recorded from mid-September till the second half of January.

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.