Upper parts are some lighter, dark strips on mantle and upper breast are narrower than in calandra.
Breeds and migrates in foothills and in low mountains of south and south-east Kazakhstan, from Pistelitau mountains (Kyzylkum desert), Tien Shan (including foothills of Kungey ridge) and Karatau to Ile valley and foothills of Dzhungarskiy Alatau in Kapal. It was pointed as nesting in Syrdarya delta, however later not found. Several times recorded at Kurgaldzhino Reserve. In winter occurs in Karachengil on southern coast of Kapchagay reservoir, in northern foothills of Zailiyskiy Alatau and in middle current of Chu river.
"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.