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2012-06-30
Gorkoe lake. Vylkovo, Tyumentsevsky raion. Altaisky krai. |
© Vadim Zykov
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Background color of Great Bittern is clayey-buff; each feather is black-brown mottled. Forehed, crown and nape are black-brownish. There are no differences in seasonal and age plumages. Bill, legs and skin near eyes are greenish-yellow; legs are slightly greener than bill; claws are black-brown, eyes are yellow. Sizes: wing 320-350, tail 113-116, tarsus 96-102 mm.
Eurasian Bittern widespread breeds on lakes and reservoirs in steppe, forest-steppe, and south of forest zone in Siberia; in Yakutia it can move more north, to midddle stream of Lena River. On migration it is also observed on plains; very rare visits mountain lakes.
The Eurasian Bittern is common breeding migrant. It inhabits lakes and weak current rivers with plentiful reed-beds, mace-reed and cane. Appears early (identified by voice), at April, in the north of the region in May. Migrates singly, rare in pairs. Nest is built among reed-beds from reed stems and leaves. Birds continue to construct the nest during incubation and raising of juveniles. Clutches usually 3-5, rarely 6 eggs, which found in mid - end May. Just hatched juveniles found mid-June - mid-July; flying young observed mid-July - August. Courtship booming of males heard till to early July. Repeated breeding after loss of clutches is possible. Autumn migration (singly or in small flocks of 3-8 birds) begins at end of August, majority of birds departs in September - October.
Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.
В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014