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Breeds in Tien Shan, to east from Talasskiy Alatau ridge, in Dzhungarskiy Alatau, and also in Saur ridge. Probably lives in Tarbagatay, though confirming data is not present. On dispersal and in winter comes down to foothills and on adjacent plains, reaching up Tashkent, Shymkent, Chu-Iliyskiye Mts., Ile delta, Dzhungar Gates and Zaysan depression.

Biology

Common, in places rare resident. Inhabits the upper spruce forests belt and the juniper thickets with glades at altitudes 1900-2800 m in Talasskiy Alatau, 2200-2900 m in Zailiyskiy Alatau, and 1500-1700 m in Saur. On dispersal and wintering visits the shrubby deciduous and riparian forests. Pairs are formed in end of March - April. Breeds in separate pairs, at distance at least 20-100 m from each other. Nest is built for 7-16 days by female (male escort her) in spruce or in juniper at height 0.5-14 m above the ground; nest is built from twigs and dry grass and is lined with hair. Clutch of 2-5 eggs is laid in end of May – early June (Talasskiy Alatau) or in early June to early August, mainly in mid-June – first ten days of July (Zailiyskiy Alatau). Rears one brood per season, re-nesting after loss of first clutch is common. Only female incubates clutch for 14-18 days, male feeds her. Both parents feed juveniles which fledge at age 15-16 days old. Scattered in the foothills and adjacent plains in October-November (usually after cold snaps and snowfalls) where there is up to the end of March.

References

"Птицы Казахстана" том 5. "Наука". Алма-Ата, 1974. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.