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he adult Sedge Warblers both males and females in breeding plumage are grey-brownish above with blackish-brown streaks which disappeared on rump and uppertail coverts. Uppertail is rufous unstreaked. The dark spots on head formed the rows, the number of which usually is four: two broad rows on head-flanks and two narrow on crown. The white supercilium is well prominent. The lores and ears coverts are darker than background. Flight and tail feathers are brownish grey-tipped. The outer webs of secondaries have broad white edges. Underparts are yellowish-clayey, the flanks are darker and the throat is almost white. Axillaries are whitish of clayey-tinged. Underwing coverts are pale-grey with clayey borders. In autumn plumage all colors brighter, the rufous dominates on upperparts, the supercilium and underparts are buffy. Upper mandible is dark-brownish, the base of lower mandible is pale, yellowish. Legs are bluish-grey or yellowish-grey, the soles are dark-yellow. Claws are black. Iris is greyish-brown. Juveniles in first plumage are similar on autumn adults, but have the dark spots on throat-flanks and fore-neck, and the neater streaks on upperparts. Size: wing 61-70, tail 48-57, tarsus 20-23 mm, weight 11.0-13.2 gr.

Distribution

Sedge Warbler breeds in northern half of Kazakhstan from Volga-Ural area to Zaysan depression, in south to northern coast of Caspian Sea, mouth of Temir river, lowers of Irgiz and Turgay rivers, upper course of Sarysu and Nura rivers, Zaysan lake. Also nests in lower of Syrdarya from mouth up to Baygakum station; in Altai on Markakol lake; and on Irtysh river. In summer and on migration repeatedly occurs on Mangyshlak, in Syrdarya valley (Solotyube and Karaozek stations, Baubenaral lake) and on Alakol lake.

Biology

Sedge Warbler is common breeding migrant. Inhabits rush or reed (Phragmites communis, Scirpus sp.) thickets with bushes. On migration occurs in bushes, reed belts, and rarely in wormwood steppe. Arrives in end of April to early May, migration finishes in end May - early June. Breeds in separate pairs, not far from each other. Nest is built in dense grass, rush, low reed, willow or on ground; nest is built from the dry grass and moss mixed with cobweb, and is lined with thin grass and sometimes hair. Clutch of 4-6 eggs is from end of May to end of June. Only female incubates the clutch for 13 days. Both parents feed juveniles, which fledge at 13-15 days old, in mid-June to early August. Autumn migration begins in August, most birds leave in September, latest records in end of October.