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Rare breeding migrant, but in non-breeding areas numerous passage migrant and common winter visitor. Inhabits the deciduous or mixed light forest (birch, willow, fir-tree) on marshes; on migration and wintering visits the various forests, shrub thickets, shelterbelts, gardens, fields and thickets of tall weeds. The spring movement in flocks of several dozen to several hundred birds begins in the end of February – early March; in southern areas migration finishes in mid-April, in northern ones in end of April – early May as soon as birds appear in breeding sites in Altai. Breeds in separate pairs. Nest is located on tree at height 4-5 m above the ground; nest is built from the dry grass and moss and is lined with the thin grass, feathers and hair. Clutch of 5-7 usually 6 eggs is laid in mid-May – early June. In autumn migration begins in third ten days of September – early October. The main flight paths pass on the Ural river valley and along the foothills of Tien Shan where the some compact flocks may contain up to 300-400 birds. Latest migrants recorded in November, later only wintering birds are observed.

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. Издательство Уральского университета, 2000.