Black-headed Bunting

Emberiza melanocephala (Scopoli, 1769)

		male
2016-06-09 isatai. Atyrau oblast.	© Askar Isabekov

Distribution

Breeds only near Zhanibek village at area between Volga and Ural rivers (in 1934-1965). In breeding time recorded in July 1933 at Zhurun railway station (in south from Kandagach station); on migration 7 males observed at Aktau rocks (Mangyshlak) in May 6, 1947; one male was observed at Isatai area in May 09,2011 by Oleg Belyalov. June 09, 2016 the singing and showing territorial behavior male and the female located nearby were observed at Isatai village area (Atyrau oblast) by Askar Isabekov.

Biology

Very rare breeding migrant. Inhabits plains with ravines and small hills covered by high grass with bush patches and singly trees. Appears in early May. Nest is built from thin grass stems and lined with soft leaves and horsehairs, in bush or in tree up to 1-1.5 m above ground. Clutches of 4-5, rarely 6-7 eggs from end May. No data about autumn migration.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. "Птицы Казахстана" том 5, "Наука", Алма-Ата, 1974. Рябицев В. К., Ковшарь А. Ф., Ковшарь В. А., Березовиков Н. Н. «Полевой определитель птиц Казахстана», Алматы, 2014.