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Common, in places a numerous breeding migrant. Inhabits meadows in river valleys and near lakes, lucerne, clover and cereal fields, edges or clearings in forests, in mountains up to 2000 m on Altai and 2800-3000 m in Zailiyskiy Alatau, where high grass grows. Appears in second half of April – mid-May. Migration is swift and sudden, and last birds observed at end May. Pairs are formed only at the time of mating. Nest is built under bush or dense grass on ground in shallow hole lined with grass. Clutch of 7-20 eggs is produced from May – mid-August. So long breeding period explained by late nesting of first-year breeders and early maturing of young birds from early broods, which become ready for breeding at late summer. Re-nesting after loss of first clutches can be a third reason, as many clutches perished on hayfields. Under normal conditions one female reared two broods per year. Only female incubates for 15-17 days and cares for chicks; at age 35-40 days chicks do not differ from adults in size. As young males readily approach singing females, the last clutches may belong to young birds. Autumn migration begins in August. From northern Kazakhstan, largely disappears end September, although some birds linger to mid-October. At Chokpak Pass mass migration observed at the end of September – first half of October. After frost and snowfall many birds perished in mountains. The last stragglers have been observed to mid-November. In mild winters, singly birds occur in South Kazakhstan, in Shymkent area.

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.