Lapland Longspur

Calcarius lapponicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

2019-10-24 Estern Caspian Sea. 70 km westward from Buzachi peninsula.	© Fedor Karpov

Distribution

Occurs on migration and in winter in Altai and in plains of Kazakhstan, south up to northern coast of Caspian Sea and Aktau on Mangyshlak, on Barsa-Kelmes island, in Syrdarya valley (Chiili and Tarturgay), in lower reaches of Talas and Ile rivers (Zhelturanga).

Biology

Rare winter visitor. Occurs in steppe and desert plains, on saline soil patches, and in mountain grass steppe up to 2000 m. In autumn appears in mid-September - October. Large spring passage observed regularly in Central Kazakhstan (Kurgaldzhino Reserve) in March - April, where flocks of hundreds or thousands of birds observed in 1960, but in other years only of 50 birds, no more. Latest records in mid - end April.

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.