What are small birds. Birds. Waterfowl of Russia

14.11.2019

Birds have always fascinated people, because these graceful birds have access to what mankind could only dream of before ... Flights! How wonderful it must be to rise into the air, feeling the gusts of a light breeze on your body. Or, having caught the air flow, surrender to it and soar above the ground without making any effort.

It is not surprising that as soon as the camera turned from a luxury item available only to a few, it turned into the most common technique that almost every family has, nice pictures birds have become a desirable prey for any amateur photographer. Birds are photographed in flight and on the ground, in flocks and singly, with and without chicks.

There are just a myriad of options for a photograph, because each bird has its own character, habits and secrets of flying. Take, for example, the peregrine falcon - the fastest of all living creatures on the planet. It is worth photographing it during a vertical dive, when it reaches speeds of up to 90 m / s, and an amazing picture of a bird is ready. True, you need to have time to press the button.

Watching flightless birds can also bring a lot of amazing shots. Numerous colonies of penguins alone are worth something! Yes, these birds will never rise into the air, but how graceful and fast they are under water!

In general, look at photos of birds, admire them and never get tired of admiring them. After all, a little less than ten thousand species of birds live on earth today. This is the most numerous and diverse group of tetrapods. Only in Russia, about 657 species of birds nest, and in general, more than 780 species of birds are found on the territory of the country. Interestingly, birds inhabit all possible ecosystems of the Earth from the North Pole to the South.

In this article I will review all the birds of Russia. You will find out what species of birds live in our country, what they are called, how they are classified and why they are unique. I will give photos of the most interesting species.

Russia is located on a territory that is divided into 5 belts. it a large number of geographic zones in which a certain area is created. Therefore, the biodiversity of birds in Russia is large - 790 species. For taxonomy, they are classified into the Aves class of the chordate type. The class is subdivided into groups, and they, in turn, into families.

The birds of Russia are divided into 21 orders and 76 families. They also include relatively recently extinct individuals. There are 7 types of them in Russia. The most famous of them is the red-legged ibis, the last individual was found in 1990 in the Amur region.

Related species that are similar in some respects form families, and those, in turn, form orders. Some orders unite only a few species, others - hundreds.

In total, 657 species of birds nest in our country.

Migratory - fly south in autumn, the main diet of which is insects. They are called settled - which never leave the area. They mainly feed on cereals.

Stray - (about 110 species) are noted in Russia during migrations. Less often they fly by chance or in search of food in cases of climate change and food conditions in the area. These are often referred to as nomads.

About 130 species of Russian birds are included in the Red Book as vulnerable and close to extinction. The Union for the Protection of Birds of Russia is engaged in the conservation of species diversity.

The main reason for the extinction of birds is human activities. Deforestation, urbanization, water and air pollution, fishing and the use of pesticides in agriculture.

Everyone can contribute to the protection of birds. You can reduce the use of chemicals in vegetable gardens, feed the wintering ones, take care of the chicks that have fallen out of the nest.

Stork or ankle

This order includes herons (horns, bitterns), ibises and storks.

26 species of storks live in Russia, some of which fly in during the migration season. These are birds that have adapted to life in wetlands and shallow water.

Many species have high legs, long necks, and strong beaks that make it easier for them to move across muddy ground and grasp moving aquatic animals. They live along the shores of lakes, rivers, seas and swamps. Rarely settle in the fields.

There are many rare species among the storks of Russia.

The black stork is a representative with a unique color, included in the Red Book.

The stork has a white belly, blue-black feathers, a reddish beak and legs. Range - extends along 60-61 parallels from the Baltic Sea to Sakhalin Island. The black stork is secretive - it does not contact people, therefore it is little studied.

Ibis are mainly found in the south of Russia, some species only fly in. For example, the sacred ibis.

The range of herons in Russia is very wide, depending on the species.

For example, the yellow heron lives in the Stavropol Territory and on the Volga Delta. She is more active at dusk and is mostly solitary.

petrels

The order includes long-winged and short-tailed seabirds.

A characteristic feature is the special structure of the beak.

Nostrils - stretched forward in the form of horny tubes, which are located along the surface of the beak. Hence the second name of the detachment - tube-nosed.

Most of the time they spend above the sea, returning to land only for nesting. Long and narrow wings allow birds to fly without landing or soar above the water. They feed on plankton, fish, carrion, attack live small birds and destroy nests.

Albatross and petrel

The most famous representatives are albatrosses and petrels.

White-backed albatross - giant of air navigation

Kachurki

Less well-known are storm-petrels - small (20-50 g) sea birds.

The name comes from the colloquial word - to turn around, in the old days, birds were considered the souls of dead sailors.

They live on the coast of the Pacific Ocean. They feed on plankton, fry or fish waste. Therefore, at night you can see an interesting sight - flocks of storm-petrels flying into the light of ships.

copepods

Common features - from this detachment - the structure of the legs, where all the fingers are connected by a swimming membrane. Also partially or completely closed nostrils, wide wings, waterproof plumage.

All species feed on fish that are caught underwater.

They form large colonies, mostly on sparsely populated islands.

Bering cormorant

The Bering cormorant lives on Wrangel Island, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. In search of food, it flies far into the sea, forming the most numerous bird colonies.

The pink pelican lives on the islands of the Sea of Azov and the Volga delta.

It has a Russian name - a woman-bird. Pink pelicans are distinguished by organized fishing - this is a rarity.

They gather in groups and drive the fish to the shore, strongly flapping their wings in the water. Interestingly, this happens at the same time from 8 to 9 o'clock.

Sometimes tropical birds fly into Russia - boobies.

passeriformes

Some species live in close proximity to humans. For example, swallows, starlings, sparrows, tits, magpies and crows. These are small and medium-sized birds that differ in appearance and lifestyle.

Passeriformes are important human helpers in the fight against insect pests in agriculture and forestry. However, granivorous - sparrows and weavers, can cause significant damage to the crop.

Endemics:

thrush Naumann;
Siberian lentils;
yellow-browed oatmeal;
Siberian horse.

Some species of passerines lead a sedentary lifestyle. Living in regions with a sharp change in climate, fly away for the winter.

The red-headed kinglet is the smallest bird in Europe with an average weight of only 5.1 g. It lives in the Pskov region and the Crimea.

The robin or robin lives throughout the central part of Russia up to the Ob River. The robin is known as the tutor of cuckoo chicks and for its incessant singing.

The detachment is very extensive, there is no common unifying feature.

This includes thrushes, crossbills, pikas, buntings, orioles, flycatchers, warblers, nightingales and other species.

loons

This order includes 5 species of loons. In Russia, they nest in the Arctic zone from the Kola Peninsula to the lower reaches of the Amur. They are found in Altai, Sayan and Tuva. Loons are waterfowl about the size of a domestic goose. Most of the time they spend on the water, they move on land with difficulty, as if sliding on their belly.

Able to dive to a depth of 21 m, they feed exclusively on small fish.

They mainly live in the sea, freshwater reservoirs are visited only during the flight or breeding.

They winter in the Black Sea. They return back in a different way - first they fly to the Baltic Sea, then to the northern coasts to the nesting place.

Loon meat is eaten by indigenous people of the Far North. Previously, women's hats and collars were sewn from the skins, but the fashion for such products has passed - fishing is no longer conducted.

Pigeons

This detachment includes 12 species of pigeons and doves.

Common features are a short neck, small head, rounded body, short legs, long and pointed wings. They mainly feed on seeds, berries, grains, fruits.

The most famous representative is the gray dove, accustomed by man in antiquity. Subsequently, breeds of domestic pigeons were bred from this species by selection. The rock dove is found in almost all cities, wild relatives live on coastal cliffs and cliffs near rural farms.

A unique feature of pigeons is the unmistakable determination of the way back home.

Therefore, they were used in the postal service.

A very rare species of dove, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, lives on Far East. This is a Japanese green dove with an unusual color: a bright green body and bluish wings. The bird is secretive and cautious, very little studied.

Anseriformes

This order includes all kinds of ducks, geese and swans.

They are of different sizes, for example, a mute swan weighs about 13 kg, and a teal whistler only 300 g. All species live near water bodies: swamps, lakes, river mouths. Some lead a marine lifestyle, visiting land only for nesting.

A distinctive feature of anseriformes is the membranes between the fingers, which facilitate movement on the water.

They are excellent swimmers, divers and are able to spend up to 3 minutes under water.

Most species fly well. Every year they cover several thousand kilometers during the flight to the wintering place. They feed on fish, algae and plants. To facilitate digestion, small pebbles are regularly swallowed. Basically, these are monogamous representatives - in some species, pairs are formed for life. For example, mute swans.

Which live only in Russia:

teal-kloktun;
red-throated goose;
tundra swan.

All endemics are included in the Red Book of Russia

A rare duck, the mandarin duck, lives in the Far East. It is distinguished by the unique color of the male: a bright red beak, plumage with orange, greenish, red flowers.

Birds mostly stay on the surface of the water, practically do not dive

They eat plant foods and nest in tree cavities. Unlike other types of ducks, they like to rest on rock ledges and tree branches.

Woodpeckers

A characteristic feature of all species is a developed, chisel-shaped, completely horny beak. They use them to hammer wood, extracting larvae and insects from there.

This order includes 11 species of woodpeckers.

Woodpeckers have a stocky body, short legs, blunt and wide wings. The color is varied: motley, black, green, orange. In many species, a bright red oval spot is located on the top of the head.

Woodpeckers live in mixed or deciduous forests with many old trees. Many species are not afraid of humans and can settle in city parks or gardens. All woodpeckers in Russia are sedentary, except for the wryneck, which winters in Africa, India or Southeast Asia. During the mating season, woodpeckers form pairs, hollowing out hollows for the nest.

Cranes

This order includes birds of various appearance, internal structure and lifestyle. These are cranes, bustards and shepherds. They mostly live in swamps, rarely nest in trees. The difference in size is impressive: from 15 cm to 2 m.

23 crane species live in Russia, 13 of them are listed in the Red Book.

The endemics of our country are the black crane and the eagle crane.

7 species of cranes nest in Russia. The most common and famous of them is the gray crane. It is 115 cm high and weighs up to 6 kg. Range - all of central Russia to Transbaikalia. Mostly lives in isolation, but can settle in close proximity to rural areas and pastures.

They create a pair for life, before nesting they cover their feathers with silt and mud to hide from predators while incubating eggs. They winter in Africa, India or China.

The shepherd family includes:

8 types of epaulettes,
landrail,
moorhen,
Sultanka,
coot.

They live near water bodies, with the exception of the corncrake. It nests in the forest or forest-steppe zone. This is a commercial - the desired prey of hunters. Corncrake is distinguished by long-distance flights - for wintering it reaches the southern regions of Africa.

Another interesting representative of this order is the bustard. Settles on semi-arid steppes or forest-steppes, feeds on insects, seeds of plants and grain crops. It calmly tolerates low temperatures, but with prolonged snow cover it can die. In Tsarist Russia, the bustard was considered princely game.

Nightjars

In Russia, there are 2 species of nightjars, the range is Primorye, Southern Siberia, Transbaikalia. They migrate to South Africa for the winter. These are nocturnal birds that inhabit light pine forests, clearings and wastelands.

Characteristic features are relatively large head and eyes, short beak, wide mouth slit, long tail and wings. The legs are short and poorly adapted to movement on the ground. They feed on nocturnal insects and nest directly on the ground.

The nightjar birds got their name undeservedly, earlier people were mistaken and believed that they capture the udder of goats with their beaks and drink milk.

This is not true.

cuckoo

There are 5 types of cuckoos in Russia.

Birds have different sizes, are combined according to signs: a thin body, a long tail and strong legs. These are typical migratory birds that winter in Africa or the tropics of Asia.

Cuckoo chicks are characterized by early hatching and rapid development. Therefore, they often throw out the weaker chicks of foster parents from the nest.

The common cuckoo is the most common species in our country. It is medium in size, weighing up to 190 g. The cuckoo leads a secretive and silent lifestyle. Only in spring and in the first half of summer you can hear the mating song of males. The most famous and measured sound: cuckoo, cuckoo. In clear weather, the voice of the cuckoo is heard at a distance of 2 km.

Galliformes

This order includes birds that lead a terrestrial lifestyle. Many types of chickens do not fly at all. Appearance and the anatomical features of birds are adapted for life on earth and protection from predators.

Common features: dense build, small head on a short neck, strong legs, wide and short wings, small and convex beak. All this allows the birds to forage from the surface of the earth, quickly run and dig the soil.

The squad includes:

partridges;
black grouse;
capercaillie;
pheasants;
quail;
wild grouse;
ulars;
grouse.

One of the rarest birds is the wild grouse. This species is on the verge of extinction.

The reason is that wild grouse are absolutely not afraid of humans. This led to their mass destruction. The taiga hunters have a tradition - not to kill wild grouse, leaving it to weakened travelers. She eats needles, so the meat is slightly bitter.

The capercaillie got its Russian name due to the complete loss of male vigilance during mating, which hunters always use. This is the largest - from this family, gaining weight up to 6.5 kg.

All types of galliformes are objects of fishing. The meat of hazel grouse, pheasant, quail is considered a delicacy and is served in expensive restaurants.

Toadstools

This order includes 5 species of waterfowl living in Russia.

They are often confused with ducks, although they have nothing in common.

They differ in appearance and features of the structure.

The bones of toadstools are not hollow, so they have a deeper seat in the water. There are no characteristic webbing between the toes, but there are leather lobes protruding from both sides of the legs. Therefore, grebes do not row under themselves, as ducks do, but work with their feet from behind, like a ship's propeller. Another feature is the extremely unpleasant taste of meat. Hence the Russian name - grebe.

Grebes are excellent swimmers and divers, but their legs carried back do not allow them to move well on the ground. Therefore, they lead an aquatic lifestyle, moving to land only for rest or nesting. In Russia, grebes are found in different climatic zones from the Kola Peninsula to the Aral Sea.

Shellfish

This detachment includes small and medium-sized, with hard and predominantly bright plumage. These are heat-loving - most of which come from the tropics. Therefore, all 9 species that live in Russia migrate to southern countries closer to winter. The range covers the entire central part and south-west of Siberia. Many species just fly in.

The order includes 5 species of kingfishers, European roller, bee-eaters and eastern shirokoroth.

The most common bird in Russia is the Roller Roller. Up to 35 cm long and weighing up to 200 g. The general color is greenish-blue, flight wings are sandy in color. Rollers fly low, but on the ground it is almost impossible to see. The structure of stocky and long legs make moving on the surface uncomfortable. The main food is large insects, sometimes small rodents and reptiles.

hoopoe

The only species from this order in Russia is the hoopoe.

This is a small bird with bright striped plumage and an orange crest on its head. During landing on the ground, the crest unfurls like a fan.

It lives throughout central Russia and part of Eastern Siberia in open areas with sparse thickets of shrubs. They are representatives of warm regions leading a sedentary lifestyle, from colder latitudes they migrate to Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan.

They mostly lead a terrestrial lifestyle, they run very fast, and in case of danger they cling to the ground, lifting their crest up. They feed on insects, larvae and small reptiles.

An interesting feature of hoopoes is the release of an oily liquid with an unpleasant odor from the coccygeal gland during incubation of eggs.

This is a specific protection of masonry from terrestrial predators. But because of this feature, people consider the bird unclean.

Charlottes

This is a large order, which includes about 170 species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds. Representatives differ greatly in appearance and behavioral characteristics. But birds have common features. All birds are attached to the sea or fresh water and are adapted to cold climate conditions.

Russian endemic birds:

sandpiper-shovel;
curlew baby;
ash snail;
Okhotsk snail.

Most of them live in flocks, the number of which reaches hundreds of thousands of individuals. For example, seagulls - there are 36 species of them in Russia. Most of the gulls settled near humans - they feed in garbage dumps, arable land or near fishing boats.

The pink gull breeds in northern Russia and a small part of Greenland. It is unique in color - the chest and abdomen are pale pink, the back and wings are ashen, and there is a thin black collar on the neck.

Snipes are found in north-central Russia and Siberia. Mostly they are migratory birds. The most famous species for us is the woodcock. It was repeatedly mentioned in the literature by the classics: A.P. Chekhov, I.S. Turgenev, L.N. Tolstoy. Woodcock - a dense build the size of a city pigeon. Camouflage color: rusty-brown with black, gray, red spots, so it is difficult to notice against the background of old foliage. Woodcock is an object of sport hunting.

Another representatives of the detachment are skuas.

All 5 Russian species live in polar regions.

They fly fast, but move clumsily on the ground and do not dive. They nest on rocky uninhabited islands. They feed on fish from the surface of the water, take prey from other birds, destroy nests and catch small rodents.

Auk family

This detachment also includes the family of auks. They are with black and white plumage, straighten up vertically when walking and live in the polar regions.

They are often compared to penguins. However, these are not related birds, the similarity was formed due to adaptation to the same conditions.

Unlike penguins, auks fly.

Ryabkovye

3 species live in Russia - from this detachment.

They resemble pigeons in appearance - a small head, a short beak, low legs, long wings and a wedge-shaped tail. They have dense plumage and thick skin to protect against overheating. A characteristic feature is the plumage on the legs. The color is varied: brownish-yellow, greenish, sandy, motley.

In Russia, they live near the Caspian Sea and on the lower reaches of the Volga. They prefer sandy deserts, feed on plant seeds. In cases of danger, they cling to the ground and freeze. Because of the camouflage color, they become invisible to predators. For nesting, they break into pairs. Chicks are fed with food clogged in the goiter, water is brought on wet belly feathers.

owls

This detachment includes predatory representatives, who are mainly nocturnal. All of them are distinguished by a large head, large eyes, a sharp beak and claws, and a masking color.

Anatomical features - differ significantly from the structure of diurnal predators, so owls are singled out in a separate order.

A special skeleton allows owls to turn their heads 270 °, fly silently, hear well, and causes immobility of the eyes.

A separate genus is the barn owl, which lives in the Kaliningrad region. This is a medium-sized bird weighing up to 700 g. The color is reddish with transverse ash-silver stripes, the abdomen and facial disc are white. The difference from other owls is the facial disc in the shape of a heart.

17 species of owls live in Russia.

The reaction of barn owl to humans is interesting. When approaching her, she rises and begins to sway in different directions on her feet, while various grimaces are depicted on her face.

The most famous representative of owls is the common owl. Weight up to 3.2 kg and body length up to 75 cm.

It lives throughout Russia, except for the Arctic zones.

Settles in various places, but prefers secluded corners - forested hills, ravines, rocky slopes. It feeds on small animals and birds, rarely fish and reptiles. The eagle owl is not afraid of humans, sometimes settles in parks or farms.

All owl birds play an essential role in protecting rural areas and forestry from rodents.

Therefore, they are under protection, many species are included in the Red Book. In the course of observations, it was proved that the tawny owl destroys up to 1000 mice and voles per year, which damage more than 500 kg of grain during the same period.

Falconiformes

The detachment consists of diurnal predators. 45 species live in Russia. All of them are distinguished by a strong physique with well-developed muscles, sharp eyesight and high speed flight. They mainly feed on meat, but some species eat insects and fish. For example, honey beetles and osprey.

Lots of unique views. The Steller's sea eagle is one of the largest eagles, its body weight can reach up to 9 kg. It lives in Kamchatka, the lower reaches of the Amur River and along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.

Snake-Eater or Karachun

The snake-eater or karachun is one of the most distrustful and shy birds of prey. They nest in places that are impassable and remote from humans; they are common in central Russia. Birds feed on snakes and other reptiles.

peregrine falcon

The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds of up to 320 km or more.

Peregrine falcons are distributed throughout Russia, nesting on the rocky shores of water bodies. However, some couples settle in close proximity to humans. The falcons lived on St. Isaac's Cathedral in Leningrad (1950), a Moscow skyscraper (1960s), and the Moscow State University building (2008).

This detachment includes vultures, eagles, hawks, harriers, eagles, kites. Many species of birds are rare, included in the Red Book of Russia and other countries.

Swift-shaped

The order includes 5 species of swifts, one of which flies by chance from Central Asia.

The birds are unique in that they spend most of their time outdoors, landing only to nest.

The structure of the legs does not allow swifts to move on the surface - they drink, eat and even sleep on the fly. This is one of the most fast birds in the world - capable of speeds up to 170 km / h.

This order includes the buffy hummingbird. The only species of the hummingbird family in Russia. The bird's range is Alaska and northern California, but hummingbirds are occasionally observed in Russia. In 1976, the bird lived on Ratmanov Island, and is currently found on Chukotka and Wrangel Island.

Flamingos

The only species from this order that is noted in Russia is the common flamingo. wild birds fly into Dagestan, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territory, less often into Yakutia and South Siberia during migration.

It is amazing beautiful bird pale pink color and purple-red wings. The large beak, disproportionate to the head, is curved, has a pink color with a black tip. The birds have very long bright pink legs, a strong body and an arched neck. Body weight reaches 3.5 -4 kg. Flamingo

Russia is amazing big variety birds.

We are accustomed to observing only the most common birds, often we do not suspect that unique species also live in the neighboring forest.

Each bird of Russia is interesting in its own way and is worth studying in detail its features and lifestyle.

Wintering birds are called those that remain in native land year-round. Animals are guided not so much by air temperature as by their personal abilities and the specifics of the food supply of the region.

Heat in the cold is only a well-fed feathered one. This means that a wintering bird must be able to get food among the snows. Accordingly, insectivorous species fly away in winter. There are those who are content with berries, seeds and predators hunting mice and hares. There are about 70 wintering bird species in Russia.

Pigeon

Their body temperature, like that of other birds, is 41 degrees. This is another proof that if food is available, feathered frosts do not care. not easy wintering birds, but "tied" to a specific place. Flying away from the "native nest" for thousands of kilometers, the gray ones always come back. People took advantage of this by sending letters with pigeons.

Having taken them to the addressee, the birds returned. Scientists debate how birds find their way home. Some refer to magnetic fields. Others believe that pigeons navigate by the stars. Pigeons are faithful not only to their native lands, but also to partners. A pair of birds is chosen once and for life, like swans.

Pigeons are very attached to their habitats and do not leave them when they have food.

Sparrow

Group of wintering birds consists of several types. Two live in Russia: city and field. The latter is typical for countryside. The total number on the planet is close to a billion. Accordingly, one bird for 8 people.

Given that birds feed on grains, this is a threat to the crop. In China, they even carried out an action to destroy sparrows. Finding out that they could not fly for more than 15 minutes, people frightened the birds, preventing them from landing on the ground. Approximately 2 million individuals fell dead. However, in the absence of sparrows, it bred - another delicacy of birds. She ate the harvest instead of birds.

Like doves, sparrows tend to choose one mate for life. At the same time, birds have hot blood. Instead of 41 degrees, the sparrow's body heats up to 44 degrees. This is typical for small birds. They lose energy faster. Interestingly, the neck of a sparrow has 2 times more vertebrae than a giraffe. The point is the length of the fragments. Sparrows are flat.

Crossbill

This bird of the finches family has a bent, crooked beak. Its structure is determined by its function. With its beak, the crossbill picks up grains from cones. At the same time, a characteristic click is heard. Hence and names of wintering birds.

Despite the adaptability of the beak, it is not possible to take out all the pine nuts. The cones thrown by birds are cleaned. The males of the species are red-brown, and the females are gray-green-yellow. Such birds become by the age of 3. As adults, crossbills do not exceed 20 centimeters in length and weigh about 50 grams.

The intelligence of ravens, by the way, is comparable to the development of 5-year-old children. Birds solve the same logical problems. One of the indicators of the mind is the way the nests are protected. Ravens throw stones at enemies, picking them up in tenacious paws.

In food, birds are unpretentious, they absorb grains, vegetables, and bread. Birds often destroy the nests of other birds. But, the favorite delicacy of ravens is carrion. There is a lot of it in winter, because not all animals can withstand the cold. Here birds and remain to winter.

In poor prey years, polar owls migrate to the forest-steppe zone. The bird is large, up to 70 centimeters in length. The feathered one is gaining a 3-kilogram mass. That's about how much Harry Potter held on his arm. The hero of the work of Joan Rowling often used the services of Buckley. That was the name of the white owl, who served as a messenger for the wizard.

Kedrovka

The bird feeds on pine nuts. For them, the feathered one has a sublingual sac. It carries about 100 nuts. The Russian taiga is rich in cedar trees, which means that there is no need for the bird to fly away in winter. Some of the cones remain on the trees in winter.

We hide the nutcracker nuts that did not fit into the sublingual bag within a radius of 2-4 kilometers from the tree on which they ripened. In winter, stocks are buried in snowdrifts, and in summer in the ground. In Russia there is a monument to the nutcracker. He stands in Tomsk. The Siberian city is surrounded by cedar trees. The inhabitants of the region know and love their inhabitant, admiring her all year round.

Owl

Listed in Red. Pernatoe easily endures Russian winters, but cannot adapt to the reduction due to the destruction of the taiga of its fiefdom. However, eagle owls are able to live in captivity. In zoos and with private owners, birds lived to be 68 years old. In nature, the age of the owl is limited to 20 years. Like the snowy owl, it hunts for rodents, hares, martens.

Birds catch them around the clock. The main activity is at night. During the day, eagle owls sleep more often. Eagle owls swallow small prey whole. Large prey birds are first torn into pieces that can squeeze into the throat. Cases of owl attacks on young roe deer and wild boars have been recorded. This indicates the impressive size of the birds.

Nuthatch

The bird has a bluish back and a white belly. The sides of the feathered are red in black stripes. On the paws are curved sharp claws. With them, nuthatches dig into tree trunks, quickly and deftly moving along them. The bird is looking for hidden insects, their larvae. A sharp, long beak allows the nuthatch to get them in winter. The bird studies every crack in the bark with it.

They prefer to settle in oak forests. Where oaks do not grow, birds choose parks with deciduous plantings. Nuthatches look for trees with hollows, settling in them. If the entrance to the house is wide, it is coated with clay. The nuthatch is engaged in this work in the warm season.

Nuthatches prefer to survive the cold by nestling in hollow trees.

yellow-headed wren

Less than him only hummingbirds. On the bird's head is a yellow tuft resembling a crown. This association prompted the name feathered. It does not pull on the king, because it is the size of a dragonfly. The weight of the bird is about 7 grams.

Kinglets live in coniferous forests. Unlike hummingbirds, Russian dwarfs among birds endure a harsh climate. Even in winter, beetles manage to find insects and their larvae. On the day, the feathered eats as much food as it weighs itself.

Chizh

It is considered migratory. However, some siskins remain for the winter in Russia. Birds are ready to survive the winter here next to non-freezing reservoirs. Bird nests are arranged in the roots of trees near them.

Small birds so skillfully disguise dwellings that they became the heroes of the legend about the invisible stone. Our ancestors believed that such a crystal is placed under the nest, hiding it from prying eyes.

Wintering also includes hazel grouse, partridge. They warm themselves by burrowing into the snowdrifts. Under the snow, birds are looking for food - last year's grains and grasses.

The black grouse even uses the snow as a warm bed for the night.

In severe frosts, birds try to avoid flying. The area of the body that increases with open wings leads to greater heat loss. The bird runs the risk of freezing instead of catching prey or getting to places with better weather.

Wintering birds of Russia

Let us consider in more detail the types of birds remaining to winter in Russia.

Since the picture above does not list all types wintering birds of Russia, for the sake of completeness, let's call them: Sparrow, Crows, Dove, Woodpecker, Nutcracker, Crossbill, Yellow-headed Kinglet, Partridge, Moskovka, Tawny Owl, Nuthatch, Grouse, Waxwing, Titmouse, Bullfinch, White Owl, Jay, Magpie, Black Grouse, Eagle Owl, Tap-dance , Lentil, Siskin, Goldfinch, Shchur.

In Russia there is a huge number of birds, you can meet birds in all natural areas of the country. These are water and forest, field and city birds, birds of the tundra and the Arctic. Quite a lot of birds are rare and endangered species, so they are listed in the Red Book. Unfortunately, there are birders who sell birds at zoo markets. Those people who care about the conservation of nature should not buy birds, because otherwise they will finance this criminal and destructive activity for the fauna.

city dwellers

Birds find their home in various places: both in the thicket of dense forests and in noisy megacities. Some species have adapted to live close to human settlements, and over time have become full-fledged inhabitants of cities. They had to change the rhythms of life and diet, find new places for nesting and new materials for their arrangement. Urban birds make up about 24% of the entire avifauna of Russia.

In cities, you can find the following types:

Pigeon

Starling

Wagtail

Birds that live in cities make nests in buildings and structures, in the crowns of trees growing in the yards of residential complexes, in squares and parks. In addition to the above species, in various places you can find crows and tits, jays and magpies, black-headed grosbeaks and jackdaws.

water birds

Numerous flocks of waterfowl can be found on the banks of rivers and seas, lakes and swamps. The largest representatives are mandarin ducks and kamenushki, sandpipers and gulls, loons and coots, kingfishers and turtles, storm petrels and puffins, guillemots and cormorants, ochak guillemots and puffin rhinos. These species feed on marine, river small animals and fish.

mandarin duck

Kingfisher

Guillemot

Ochakovy guillemot

Toporok

On the rocky shores of some islands and on the shores of the seas, huge bird colonies are often found. They are inhabited by the most different types that get along well with each other. These are mainly gulls, cormorants and guillemots. The territory of the bird markets is quite safe and protected from predators, and in case of danger, the birds give alarm sounds. During a mass gathering, birds make nests, lay and incubate eggs, and then raise their offspring.

forest birds

Birds are inextricably linked with plants such as trees, because in the branches they find protection and a home for themselves, so they live in forests. The species diversity of the avifauna depends on the forest, whether it is coniferous, mixed or broad-leaved. The following types of birds live in the forests:

blue magpie

Kwakwa

Blue tit

flycatcher

Grouse

Shirokorot

black woodpecker

Chiffchaff

Oatmeal

Owl

Cuckoo

Kedrovka

Capercaillie

Wren

Crow

dove

This is not a complete list of all the inhabitants of the forest.

birds of the wild

Among field and meadow birds there are the following representatives:

Lapwing

lark

golden pheasant

Curlew

dumb quail

Snipe

Bustard

short-eared owl

These birds not only fly, but jump and run fast, jump and fuss, chase and hunt for someone. They make special sounds, guard and assert their territory, and some of them sing great.

Tundra birds

Birds of the tundra and the Arctic have adapted to cold climatic conditions. In addition, there is no variety of vegetation here, only small shrubs, some types of grasses, lichens and mosses. In the tundra are found:

Gull

Ussuri crane

snowy owl

phalarope

brown-winged plover

Birds of the Arctic

In the Arctic zone there are:

Loon

Bering cormorant

auklet

Ipatka

Burgomaster

Goose

Petrel

Bunting

Thus, a huge number of birds live in Russia. Certain climatic zones are characterized specific types who have adapted to life to a particular nature. They forage for themselves and build nests in the conditions to which they are already accustomed. In general, it is worth noting that Russia has a very rich bird world.

To bird class belongs to more than 8600 species of animals adapted for flight. More than 400 species of these animals are known in Ukraine. All species of birds have a short, streamlined body covered with feathers. Their forelimbs have evolved into wings, while their hind limbs are used to move on the ground, plant branches, or swim in water. Homoiothermen, the ability to fly and a fairly high level of development of the nervous system determined the originality of this group of vertebrates.

The external structure of birds

The body of birds is divided into the same sections as in reptiles, but the tail section is shortened. Birds have a more or less elongated flexible neck. Thanks to this, they can turn their heads 180 ° or more (for example, owls - 270 °). On the head are eyes protected by three eyelids (upper, lower and ciliated membrane), nostrils and auditory openings. The beak consists of the upper part - the upper beak and the lower part - we peck. At the base of the beak of bird species (for example, pigeons) is a soft skin bundle - wax.

The forelimbs are wings adapted for flight. Only three fingers covered with skin remained on them. Birds are bipedal animals. The feet basically have four toes. Three of them are directed forward, and one is backward. This allows the birds to embrace the branches and provides support while moving on the ground. But in birds capable of fast running (for example, ostriches), the number of toes can be reduced to three or even two (for example, in an African ostrich).

Integuments of the body of a bird

Birds, like reptiles, have dry skin, almost devoid of glands. Only above the base of the tail in many species do the ducts of the coccygeal gland open. With the secret of this gland (fat-like substances), birds lubricate the feather cover with the help of their beak, which makes it elastic and waterproof. The skin of birds forms various horny derivatives: these are the beaks and mandibles already known to you, as well as the claws on the tips of the fingers and horny scales covering the lower part of the legs. A variety of feathers is also a derivative of the skin of birds. Feathers, like the scales on the legs, are composed of a horn-like substance. Individual feathers consist of a rod, from which numerous thin outgrowths - beards - extend in both directions. The collection of beards is called a fan. The empty part of the rod, aimed at the skin, not the beard. Allocate contour and down feathers.

Contour feathers cover the bird's body from the outside. Their fan is formed by barbs of the 1st and 2nd orders. Barbs of the 1st order depart directly from the rod, and already from them - barbs of the 2nd order. Beards of the 2nd order have small hooks that link them together. Thanks to this, the webs of contour feathers are flexible, resilient, light and almost impermeable to air. Depending on the functions and location of the contour feathers, they are divided into integumentary, fly and tail feathers. Integumentary feathers protect the body from mechanical damage. Flywheels - large and elastic increase the surface of the wing. Birds have large tail feathers on their tails. The contour feathers have down feathers and down. These are feathers with a thin shaft, from which only the beards of the first order extend. Since these beards are not interlocked, down feathers do not have a dense web. They form a continuous cover. Between him and the body of the bird contains a layer of air, which retains heat well. The presence of feathers is one of the necessary conditions flight in birds.

This cover makes the body of birds streamlined. Flight feathers increase wing area, create thrust and lifting force, and the rudders provide regulation of the direction of flight. The bird also uses tail feathers for braking when landing. Once or twice a year, the feather coat of birds partially or completely changes, the process of molting occurs. In place of old worn out feathers, new ones grow out.

bird skeleton

The skeleton of birds is characterized by lightness, since part of the bones has a cavity filled with air. It is divided into the skeleton of the head (skull), torso (spine and chest), limbs and their belts.

A characteristic feature of the bird skull is that most of its bones are fused together. A large volume of the brain box is associated with the development of the brain. Large eye sockets are also noteworthy.

The jaws of birds are elongated and, as you already know, covered with horny sheaths. Thanks to this, a perfect apparatus for capturing food is created, because birds do not have teeth.

The ridge of birds has features associated with flight. Thus, the cervical region consists of a large number of vertebrae (from 11 to 25). This gives considerable mobility to the head. The thoracic vertebrae are fused together with a complex sacrum. The complex sacrum is formed by fused lumbar sacral vertebrae and part of the tail. This creates resistance in the body. The last tail vertebrae fuse together to form the coccygeal bone.

Attached to the thoracic vertebrae are the ribs, which together with the sternum form the chest. In most species of birds, the sternum has a flat outgrowth, protrudes forward - the keel. Muscles are attached to it, which ensure the movement of the wings during flight. The girdle of the forelimbs (wings) of birds consists of the same bones as in reptiles. But pay attention to the fact that the clavicles are fused together, forming the so-called fork. It gives elasticity to the belt of the forelimbs.

The wing skeleton has three sections: shoulder, forearm and hand. The belt of the hind limbs (legs) of birds is characterized by strength. The hind limbs are divided into thigh, lower leg and foot.

Most of the bones of the foot grow together and form a long bone - the forearm, which, together with the fingers, is covered with horny scales. The forearm provides the foot with strength and stability.

Musculature of birds

In birds, the large pectoral muscles have the largest mass, lower the wing. Their movements create lift. Small pectoral muscles raise the wing. Hypodermic muscles move individual feathers. If the air temperature drops, they shrink and the bird's feathers bristle. At the same time, the layer of air between the feathers and the skin increases, which ensures the preservation of body heat.

flight of birds

It is thanks to the movements of the wings that birds rise into the air. The sickle wings are capable of developing the highest speed in horizontal flight - up to 160 km per hour. In many species (rooks, common cranes, herring gulls, wild geese, etc.), the flight speed during migration reaches from 50 to 90 km per hour. Although the flight of most bird species during migration occurs at low altitudes (from a few tens of meters to 1 km), cases of geese flying at altitudes up to 10 km, and vultures - up to 11 km, have been recorded. The eagle, vulture and other representatives of the Falcon-shaped series have wide wings. Using ascending and descending air currents, they are able to soar in it for a long time.
And what can we say about birds that destroy an incredible number of insects and rodents - pests of agriculture and forestry. A tit eats as many insects per day as it weighs itself.

If it were possible to put together in one line of insects that the swift consumes over the summer, then it would stretch for a kilometer. Especially many harmful insects are destroyed by birds during the nesting period. So, a pair of pink starlings feeds 350 g of locusts to chicks per day, and 10.8 kg per month. For a month, thousands of starlings living in the colony, together with their chicks, destroyed 22 tons of locusts. One owl eats up to 1000 gray voles and mice during the summer, which means it saves 1 ton of bread.

If, at the same time, we recall the role of orderly birds that destroy many flies and other carriers of dangerous diseases and cleanse the earth of carrion and various garbage, birds that destroy weed seeds, birds that carry seeds of valuable trees and shrubs, then it is not difficult to understand which are faithful and disinterested feathered friends in humans.

We should not forget about the aesthetic pleasure that birds give us. Our forests and parks, gardens and fields would lose much of their beauty if the birds did not enliven them with their fuss, melodious chirping and singing.

Looking at the birds, it is impossible to keep the emotions of happiness. After all, probably, every person would like to fly like a bird!!

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