It includes a number of extinct species, as well as 5 living orders, including:
Order Cassowaries (Cassowaries and Emu)
Cassowaries and emus from the order of cassowaries, or Australian ostriches ( Casuariformes), are large, flightless birds, with long necks and legs. They have long feathers that resemble coarse fur, but the head and neck are almost hairless.
There are four extant species of cassowaries:
- Helmeted cassowary ( Casuarius casuarius);
- Orange-necked cassowary ( C. unappendiculatus);
- Cassowary-muruk ( C. bennetti);
- Emu ( Dromaius novaehollandiae).
Order Kiwiformes (Kiwi)
Experts do not agree on the exact number of species belonging to the order Kiwiformes ( Apterygiformes), but there are at least three: the southern kiwi, the great gray kiwi and the small gray kiwi. According to the latest data, scientists have identified two more species: the northern brown kiwi and Apteryx rowi.
Birds from this order are endemic to New Zealand. Kiwis are flightless birds with tiny, almost vestigial wings. They are strictly birds, digging out larvae and earthworms at night using their long, narrow beaks.
New Zealand's national bird, the kiwi, is vulnerable to diseases including dogs, which were introduced to these islands hundreds of years ago by European settlers.
Order Rheaformes (Nandu)
There are only two species of rhea in the order Rheaidae ( Rheiformes), both of which live in the , and steppes of South America. These flightless birds have long feathers and three toes on each foot; they also have claws on each wing, which are used during defense.
Rheas are similar to ostriches in appearance, however, among academic degree their relationship remains controversial. The body size of rheas is almost half the size of ostriches.
Order Ostriformes (Ostriches)
The only surviving representative of the order Ostrichidae ( Struthioniformes) - African ostrich ( Struthio camelus), who is considered a real record holder. Not only is it the tallest and heaviest living bird, but the ostrich can also reach speeds of up to 70 km/h, and can also run long distances at speeds up to 50 km/h. Ostriches have the largest eyes of any vertebrate, and their eggs, weighing up to 2 kg, are the largest of any living bird.
Subclass New palatines
New palatines (Neognathae) birds have a lot big story, which reaches Mesozoic era and this subclass includes 25 units, such as:
Order Aciformes, or Ankleidae (Storks, herons, ibises, etc.)
The order of birds is stork-like, or wavy-footed ( Ciconiiformes) includes herons, storks, ibises and others, more than 100 species in total. All of these birds are long-legged, sharp-billed carnivores that live in wetlands. Their long, flexible toes are unwebbed, allowing them to stand in thick mud without drowning. Most are solitary hunters, slowly stalking their prey before quickly striking with their powerful beaks; they feed on fish, amphibians and insects.
The earliest known ancestors of today's herons, storks and their relatives date back to the Late Era, about 40 million years ago. The closest living relatives are flamingos.
Order Shearwaters (Albatrosses and petrels)
Albatross
Birds in the order Petrel-like ( Procellariiformes), also known as tubenoses, include more than 125 living species, placed into four extant families:
- Petrels ( Procellariidae);
- Albatross ( Diomedeidae);
- Stormbreeds ( Hydrobatidae);
- Diving petrels ( Procellariidae).
These birds spend most of their time at sea, flying over the water and diving into it to catch fish and other small ones. Tubebills are colonial birds that return to land only to breed (breeding sites vary by species, but in general these birds prefer remote islands and rugged coastal cliffs), they are monogamous and form long-term bonds between mating pairs.
The largest species of the order are wandering albatrosses, whose wingspan reaches 3.25 m. The smallest species is Halocyptena microsoma- has a wingspan of less than 30 cm.
Order Passeriformes (Sparrows, starlings, crows, etc.)
Order passeriformes ( Passeriformes), are the most diverse group of birds, consisting of more than 5,000 species, including: sparrows, finches, thrushes, starlings, crows, swallows, larks and many others. These birds have a unique leg structure that allows them to tightly grasp thin twigs, reeds and fragile grass stems; some species can even cling to vertical surfaces, including mountain slopes and tree trunks.
In addition to their unique leg structure, passerines are distinguished by their complex vocalizations. Although these are not the only birds capable of making sounds using the syrinx, this organ is the most developed in passerines. Each member of the squad has unique sounds, some of them simple, others long and complex. Some species learn vocalizations from their parents, while others are born with the innate ability to sing.
Order Loons (Loons)
Order of birds ( Gaviiformes) includes five living species of loons: the red-throated loon, the black-throated loon,
the white-necked loon, the black-billed loon and the white-billed loon. Loons are freshwater waterfowl common in the northern parts and Eurasia. The legs located behind their bodies provide the bird with strength in the water, but make these birds clumsy on land. Gaviiformes They have fully webbed feet, elongated bodies, and dagger-shaped beaks well suited for capturing fish and other aquatic invertebrates.
These birds go to land to nest and build their nests close to water. Both parents care for the chicks, who sit on the adults' backs for protection until they are ready to live independently.
Order Pigeonidae (Pigeons and turtle doves)
Order Pigeonidae ( Columbiformes) includes more than 300 species of pigeons, including rock pigeons, pigeons, turtle doves, ringed doves, crowned pigeons, etc. Pigeons are small to medium-sized birds characterized by short legs, purple coloring, short necks and small heads. Pigeons have short beaks that are hard at the tip but softer at the base.
These birds are common in meadows, fields, deserts, farmlands and cities. They also, to a lesser extent, inhabit and, as well as.
Order Anseriformes (Ducks, geese, swans, etc.)
Bird order Anseriformes ( Anseriformes) includes ducks, geese, swans, etc., which tend to be somewhat irritable due to loud calls. There are about 150 living species in this order. Most prefer freshwater habitats such as lakes, streams and ponds, but some live in marine regions, at least during the breeding season.
All Anseriformes are equipped with webbed feet, which allow them to move more easily through the water. However, you may be surprised to learn that most of these birds are exclusively herbivores; only a few species feed on insects, molluscs, plankton, fish and crustaceans. Anseriformes often find themselves on back side not only because of the people who love their meat, but also because of coyotes, foxes, raccoons and even striped skunks.
Order Woodpeckers (Woodpeckers, toucans, etc.)
In the order of woodpeckers ( Piciformes) includes woodpeckers, toucans, puffbirds, nonnulas, nuns, brachygalbas, jacamaras, honeyguides, etc., about 400 species in total. These birds love to nest in trees; and the most famous birds of the order Piciformes- woodpeckers - tirelessly gouge holes in tree trunks with their beaks. Some species are antisocial, showing aggression towards other species or even their own birds, while others live well in large groups.
Thanks to the structure of their paws, oti easily climb tree trunks. For many Piciformes they also have strong legs and stout tails, as well as thick skulls that protect their brains from the effects of wood gouging. Beak shapes vary widely among members of this order.
Woodpeckers and their related species are found in most parts of the world, with the exception of Madagascar and Madagascar.
Order Crane-like (Cranes, coots, rails, etc.)
Red-crowned crane
Order Craniformes ( Gruiformes) includes about 200 living species. Members of the order vary widely in size and appearance, but are generally characterized by their short tails, long necks and rounded wings.
Cranes with long legs and necks are the largest members squad; The Indian crane is more than 1.7 m high and has a wingspan of up to 2.5 m.
AND Uraliformes also include birds that do not fit into other orders in their characteristics. Currently, the detachment includes 9 living families.
Order Nightjars
In the order Nightjars ( Caprimulgiformes) there are about 100 species of birds distributed throughout the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Their patterned feathers are often quite variegated, so they fit well into their preferred feathers (these birds tend to nest either on the ground or in trees).
IN modern classification The nightjar order includes 5 families:
- Guajaro ( Steatornithidae);
- Frogmouths ( Podargidae);
- Gigantic nightjars ( Nyctibiidae);
- Owl Nightjars ( Aegothelidae);
- True nightjars ( Caprimulgidae).
Order Cuculiformes (Cuckoos)
Common cuckoo
Order Cuckoo-shaped ( Cuculiformes) includes the only family of cuckoos, which has about 140 species.
Cuckoos are medium-sized, thin-skinned birds that live in savannahs and feed primarily on insects and insect larvae. Some species of cuckoo are known to plant their eggs in other people's nests, and when a cuckoo chick hatches, it will sometimes push other chicks out of the nest!
Order Galliformes (Guinea fowl, pheasants, partridges and crucians)
Common pheasant
Some representatives of Galliformes ( Galliformes) are well known to people who love to eat bird meat, including pheasants, quail, turkeys, guinea fowl and others. In total, this order includes 5 families and about 250 species. Many of the less familiar birds are subject to intense hunting pressure and are now facing extinction. Other members of the order, such as chickens, quails and turkeys, have been fully domesticated and are often raised in huge quantities on farms around the world.
The smallest galliform species is the painted quail, which has a body length of less than 15 cm; most great view from the order - the North American wild turkey, which can reach a length of more than 1 m and a weight of about 8 kg.
Order Pelicanidae (Pelicans, herons and ibises)
To the order pelican-like ( Pelecaniformes) include the families: pelicans, herons, shoebills, hammerheads and ibis. These birds are characterized by their webbed feet and their various anatomical adaptations for catching fish, their main food source; many species are excellent divers and swimmers.
Pelicans, the most famous members of the order, have special leather pouches at the bottom of their beaks that allow the birds to effectively catch and hold fish. There are eight species of pelicans in total.
Order Penguinaceae (Pigguins)
Order penguin-like ( Sphenisciformes) includes six genera and about 20 species of penguins. The most diverse are the crested penguins, a genus that includes 6 species.
Parrots are monogamous, forming strong pairs. Most parrots feed almost exclusively on fruits, seeds, nuts, flowers and nectar, but some species may eat (such as invertebrate larvae) or small animals (such as snails).
Mouse Bird Squad
Bird squad Coliiformes includes six living species of mousebirds that deftly climb trees in search of fruits, berries and the occasional insect. These birds are restricted to the open forests, scrub and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. They usually gather in flocks of up to thirty individuals, except during the breeding season.
One interesting fact about mouse-birds is that they were much more numerous in late times than today; in fact, some naturalists refer to these virtually unknown birds as "living fossils."
Order Coraciiformes (Kingfishers, bee-eaters, rakshas, etc.)
Coraciiformes ( Coraciiformes) is an order of mainly carnivorous birds, which includes kingfishers, bee-eaters, ground rakshas, rollers, broadmouths, etc. Some members of this order are solitary, while others form large groups. Many species are brightly colored, and all have feet with three toes pointing forward and one toe pointing backward. Coraciiformes They like to nest in holes in trees or dig tunnels in the mud along river banks.
According to modern classification, the order Coraciiformes is divided into 6 families:
- Kingfishers ( Alcedinidae);
- Earth rakshas ( Brachypteraciidae);
- Roller or true raksha ( Coraciidae);
- Shchurkov ( Meropidae);
- Momotovs ( Momotidae);
- Todievs ( Todidae).
Order Charadriiformes
Order Charadriiformes ( Charadriiformes) has about 350 species of birds found along coastlines. Charadriiformes are skilled fliers; some species undertake the longest and most spectacular migrations in the class of birds.
Charadriiformes eat a wide variety of foods, including marine worms, crustaceans and earthworms, but surprisingly, they almost never eat fish!
Order Fritillary (Hooved and Grouse)
Representatives of the order Fritillaria ( Pteroclidiformes) are medium-sized birds native to Africa, Madagascar, the Middle East, Central Asia, India and the Iberian Peninsula. There are 16 species of fritillaries, which belong to two genera.
Sandgrouse are characterized by their small heads, short necks, short, feathered legs, and ragged bodies; Their tails and wings are long and sharp, good for taking off quickly to escape predators.
Order Owls (Owls, owls, eagle owls, barn owls, etc.)
Order Owls ( Strigiformes) consists of more than 200 species, medium to large birds equipped with strong claws, good hearing, and keen eyesight. Because they hunt at night, owls have especially large eyes (which help them see in the dark) as well as binocular vision, which helps them see prey better.
They are opportunistic carnivores, feeding on everything from small mammals, reptiles and insects to other birds. Having no teeth, they swallow their prey whole and after about six hours regurgitate the indigestible parts of the eaten prey.
Owls live on every continent except Antarctica. They are found in a wide variety of terrestrial habitats, ranging from dense forests to wide-open grasslands.
Order Falconiformes (Birds of Prey)
Black vulture
Falconiformes ( Falconiformes), or birds of prey, include eagles, hawks, kites, secretary birds, ospreys, falcons, vultures and vultures, about 300 species in total. Representatives of the order are formidable predators, with powerful claws, twisted beaks, keen vision and wide wings, well suited for flight and diving. Falconiformes hunt during the day, feeding on fish, small mammals, reptiles, other birds and abandoned carrion.
The largest bird of prey is the Andean condor, whose wingspan approaches 3 m. One of the smallest birds of prey is a steppe kestrel, with a wingspan of less than 75 cm.
Order Swifts (Hummingbirds and Swifts)
Order of swift-shaped, or long-winged ( Apodiformes) is the most numerous in the class of birds after passerines, it has about 450 species of swifts and hummingbirds. In the Sibley-Ahlquist classification, this order rises to a superorder Apodimorphae, in which hummingbirds are separated into a separate order Trochiliformes.
Birds are characterized by their small in size, short legs and tiny paws. Hummingbirds and swifts included in this group also have numerous adaptations for specialized flight.
Hummingbirds are common in different areas of North, Central and South America, and swifts can be found on all continents of the world, with the exception of Antarctica. Earliest known members Apodiformes were fast birds that evolved in the early Eocene era in northern Europe about 55 million years ago; Hummingbirds appeared a little later, they separated from the early swifts after the late Eocene.
Order Trogoniformes (Trogon and Quezal)
In the order trogon-like ( Trogoniformes) there are about 40 species of trogons and quesals, tropical forest birds found in Northern and South America, southern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. These birds are characterized by short beaks, rounded wings and long tails, and many are brightly colored. They feed mainly on insects and fruits, and also build their nests in trees or abandoned insect burrows.
Mysterious as their vaguely alien names, trogans and quesals have proven difficult to classify: in the past, scientists have grouped these birds with all orders, from owls and parrots to tinamoiformes. However, in Lately molecular evidence indicates that trogons are closely related to the crustaceans, with which they may have diverged as early as 50 million years ago. These birds are rarely found in wildlife and are considered especially valuable finds for ornithologists.
Order Turaciformes (Turacos and banana eaters)
Turaciformes ( Musophagidae) - a detachment of birds that were previously classified as cuckoo-like birds. Recent genetic analysis has confirmed that it is a separate order.
Musophagidae are medium-sized birds endemic to sub-Saharan Africa, where they live in forests and savannah. They fly poorly, but move quickly through trees. They feed mainly on fruits and to a lesser extent on leaves, buds and flowers, and occasionally eat small insects, snails, and slugs.
These are gregarious birds that do not migrate, but gather in family groups of up to 10 individuals. Many species can produce high-pitched alarm calls that alert other animals to the presence of predators or humans.
Order Flamingiformes (Flamingos)
That is, birds, but hunting which is permissible from the point of view of the accepted etiquette of crowhunting and its usefulness for wildlife, including other birds. Some of them are also edible trophies.
GRAY CROW. The main and everyone's favorite one.
BLACK CROW.
Looks like a raven! Therefore, we will be attentive and careful.
She is all black with a metallic blue and purple sheen.
The carrion crow differs from the rook in its BLACK beak and its greater massiveness; from the raven - in size: they are similar to the size of the gray crow, as well as in the silhouette in flight - the raven has straighter wings.
ROOK.
Note: the rook’s readiness is, so to speak, “floating.” He is not as smart as crows, and not as harmful. However, this is where it is. Rooks, for example, greatly damage trees, breaking off their branches while building nests, and it is almost impossible for them to survive from their usual habitat. In Germany, rooks are eaten.
MAGPIE. The bird is considered a cat - it is quite smart and careful. In addition, the pest, a predator, destroys nests. But there are also nuances - according to observations, abandoned magpie nests are often occupied by other birds.
Sisach dove. You can say - "city pigeon". The photo shows a typical representative in color.
DAW. The bird is much smaller in size than a crow - about the size of a young pigeon. Her arrogance is very relative: she is not of great value to the crowdhunter, since she is not very careful and is completely harmless.
Common to rooks, magpies, jackdaws and crows.
(I’ll add a clarification: under the picture there is an inscription: “A crow steals an egg from a song thrush,” but the picture, apparently erroneously, depicts a field thrush).
OTHER "CHARGES" and "CHARGES" ARE RELATIVE.
Field Thrush (Grey Thrush, Mistletoe).
This bird breeds in large quantities, encircles gardens and orchards, devouring cherries, shadberry, rowan like locusts, chokeberry, even raspberries and currants, strawberries and wild strawberries. In addition, the thrush is not only edible, but very tasty. According to hunting classic S.T. Aksakov, this is one of the few birds that, along with snipe, has the honor of being cooked ungutted.
BLACKBIRD is another species of blackbird.
Note: Formally, this is also “zachot” - since the diet and culinary advantages of the blackbird are similar to the 1st species. But this is a songbird and, for example, very few in number in the Moscow region.
JAY.
In some regions there are no fewer of them than hooded crows. They encircle the gardens - the harm and diet in this sense is purely blackbird. But in addition, jays, for example, often carry chickens. At the same time, these birds are fearless to the point of stupidity; they are almost not afraid of the hunter. Positive factors - the jay promotes the reproduction of trees, arranging storehouses of acorns and nuts. It is edible, the meat is a bit tough, and is inferior in culinary qualities to thrush, but you can find competent cooking recipes on the Internet.
STARLING.
This songbird. However, its harm to humans is often no less than that of a thrush: according to the testimony of many, it destroys gardens. Apparently, with a starling you need to act “according to circumstances.”
Young starling.
DOUBONOS.
Encloses the gardens. In the sense of hunting him - apparently, it’s permissible if it’s seriously disturbing...
ATTENTION! "LOWS"!!!
CROW.
Hell of a LOW. This bird is listed in the Red Book. Therefore, we will be especially careful with her. Do not confuse the raven with the crow's brimstone (see above). The only thing in common is, so to speak, the silhouette. The raven is much larger than both it and the BLACK CROW (see photo above) and is all black, right down to its beak: this also differs it from the ROOK (see). The raven also has a characteristic voice, unlike the harsh and hoarse cawing of crows: it is quieter, the intonations are much softer, reminiscent of the sounds of “Krrru, krrru” or “Krrro, krrro”.
WHITE STORK.
A white bird with black wing tips, a long neck, a long thin red beak and long reddish legs. When the stork's wings are folded, it appears that the entire back of the stork's body is black. Females are indistinguishable from males in color, but somewhat smaller. Height white stork is 100-125 cm, wingspan 155-200 cm. The weight of an adult bird reaches 4 kg. The average lifespan of a white stork is 20 years.
The usefulness of the bird is expressed in the fact that its diet includes such pests as: locusts, mole crickets, chafers, and some small vertebrates (including mice and rats).
CRANE.
Attention: the bird is listed in the Red Book!
These are large, long-legged and long-necked birds, their height is 90-155 cm, wingspan 150-240 cm, and weight 2-11 kg.
Unlike similar herons, they stretch their legs and neck in flight. This makes them look like storks, but unlike them, cranes never perch on trees. The head is small, with a sharp straight beak. The tertiary flight feathers of the wings are slightly elongated, so that the tail appears long and bushy when the bird is standing on the ground. The plumage is most often gray or white.
Cranes live quite a long time. Observations show that in the wild cranes live for at least 20 years, and in captivity their age reaches up to 80 years.
HERON
They live in shallow water, in swampy or slowly flowing reservoirs. Large birds 90-100 cm long, with a wingspan of 175-195 cm, adults weighing up to 2 kg. As a rule, they are long-legged, with a long and narrow beak, flattened on the sides. They stand motionless in the water and peer into the water, looking for prey. A close relative of the heron is the Stork.
Woodpeckers. Everyone is LOW: useful birds, healers of the forest. Many are in the RED BOOK!
Great spotted woodpecker.
Lesser spotted woodpecker.
Average woodpecker.
Gray woodpecker.
Black (or yellow) woodpecker.
Green woodpecker.
The nightjar is large.
Small nightjar.
Owl Nightjar.
HOOPOE. Low terry.
GOLDFINCH.
SWALLOWS AND SWIFT.
L A S T O C H K I.
S T R I G I
“The swift is a sickle reaping the harvest in the blue field of the sky. Its crescent shape is given by long, sharp wings, which, when folded, protrude far beyond the relatively short tail with a fork-shaped neckline. This shape and dense build easily distinguishes the swift from the swallow, with which it is usually confused In fact, swifts and swallows are similar not because they are close relatives, but because, due to a similar lifestyle, they independently acquired a similar external structure." ((C), E.J. Shukurov)
Small swift.
White-belted swift (or white-rumped).
Martlet.
Needle-tailed swift.
GENERAL: swallows and swifts.
CUCKOO. It’s not so easy with her in the sense of “lowness.” S. T. Aksakov, for example, mentions that the cuckoo is edible and thus represents, although not a very desirable, but still a trophy. But... Do we need it?
SMALL POINTS.
ATTENTION: these are the same birds that the ordinary crawler, according to him, protects from garbage predators like the gray crow.
NIGHTINGALE.
LARK.
WASHINGTLE.
ZARYANKA
ORIOLE.
BULLFINCH.
Great tit.
Grenadier.
Blue tit.
Moskovka.
Brown-headed chickadee (or puffy chickadee).
Grey-headed chickadee.
Black-capped chickadee.
FIELDS SPARROW (aka red-headed or village sparrow).
It differs from the house sparrow in having a brown crown, black spots on the white cheeks and two light stripes on the wing. “It catches a lot of harmful insects, but in the fall flocks of sparrows can cause quite significant damage to gardens and vineyards.” (C)
HOUSE SPARROW.
Male.
WAGTAIL. There are many of these birds, like sparrows. But it’s a pity to shoot bullets and karma... They are completely harmless. In addition, according to statistics, during season 1, a family of wagtails destroys several kg. harmful caterpillars and beetles. Perhaps, in this regard, she can be classified as a “low-class person.”
WAFFLE.
HUNTING GAME.
Hunting for it is permitted and permissible - but using permitted methods of production and in a certain season of the year.
Waterfowl.
FOREST, SWAMP, MEADOW, FIELD GAME.
LANDRAIL.
Moorhen.
(THE LIST WILL BE COMPLETED OF COURSE)
Wood pigeon (or VITUTIN) - forest pigeon. Let's compare it with an ordinary city "rule" (photo above).
Ringed dove.
The turtle dove is big.
Small turtle dove.
PARTRIDGE.
GROUSE.
WOODCORN (WOOD SANDER).
GARSHNEP.
DUPELSNEPP
(It’s very bad in image search engines... Looks like they knocked everyone out)
CURLEW
PEEBIS (THIS IS NO LONGER A STANDARD)
Our planet is inhabited by so many birds, the names of which we sometimes have not even heard. They are found everywhere: in forests, mountains, steppes, on sea coasts and even in the cold tundra. The diversity of this group of fauna is so great that, for example, only in the territory Russian Federation You can meet representatives of more than 400 species, including not only sedentary, but also migratory birds, photos with names of which can be easily found in atlases.
Order Passeriformes
Interestingly, more than 50% of all bird species belong to the passerine order, with the smallest being the kinglet (6 g), and the largest being the raven (1.5 kg). There are four subspecies of these birds: songbirds, semi-songbirds, screamers (tyrants) and broad-billed birds (broad-billed birds). The habits and colors of birds, including forest birds, are very diverse, and the males sing and look the most impressive. They are the first to arrive at the site chosen for nesting, and with their singing they mark the territory and attract females. Some species, such as starlings and jays, are able to copy the voices of different birds and some words of our speech. Distributed everywhere.
Some passerines live in whole flocks during the nesting period, but most form pairs. The male chooses the place, and different subspecies prefer for this purpose hollows, tree branches, stones, holes in the ground, rocks, etc. Reproduction occurs in spring or summer, although, for example, the crossbill is not afraid of the cold, and if there is enough food (spruce and pine cones ), then he nests even in January.
All passerines hatch chicks that are born barely covered with light down, deaf and blind, but grow very quickly. Both the female and the male feed the cubs. On the 10-15th day, accompanied by their parents, the babies fly out of the nest; in species nesting in hollows, this happens a little later - on day 20-25.
The names of birds that belong to passerines are always heard: sparrow, tit, oriole, swallow, starling, wagtail, bunting, etc. Among the larger ones, we can distinguish the crow, jay, cardinal,
gardens, meadows and fields
All birds of open spaces are adapted to their habitat in their own way. Some of them move excellently on the ground, not only in search of food, but also to escape from enemies, practically without using their wings. They have lost the ability to fly, but they have strong legs with short toes, which facilitates fast running and digging. This group of birds includes galliformes (grouse, pheasant, partridge, guinea fowl, crax), ostriches, etc.
Daytime and nocturnal “flying” predators are characterized by powerful wings and sharp claws, which helps them hunt well. This group includes falcons, black kites, hawks, owls, meadow and field harriers, etc.
Steppe birds
The Russian steppes stretch all the way from the shores of the Azov and Black Seas to the Urals itself, and it is quite natural that a great variety of birds live in such open spaces. Steppe and desert birds, the species and names of which we will give below, are forced to be careful. Open space is not very rich in shelters, so sometimes only a quick reaction and flight can save the bird from the enemy.
Since steppe and desert species move a lot among the grass in search of food, their legs are sufficiently developed for this. In addition to partridges, steppe birds include: demoiselle crane, common bustard, little bustard, lapwing, bustard, etc. They skillfully hide in the grass thanks to the “camouflage” coloring of their feathers and easily find food on fertile steppe soils. Plants and insects are the main food, but birds of prey, photos with names of which can be found in any manual, hunt snakes, frogs and rodents, of which there are a great many here, and also do not neglect carrion. Some species of birds make their nests directly in the ground, and large predators make their nests on trees that are rare in these places.
Desert birds
There are few birds in the desert because they cannot tolerate thirst. In Russia, the south of the Astrakhan region and the east of Kalmykia belong to desert zones that abound with vegetation and moisture only in the spring. Birds such as desert chickens, bustards, warblers, and steppe eagle feel comfortable in fairly difficult conditions. Pelicans, mute swans, ducks, and egrets can nest in border areas near water bodies.
It is impossible not to mention the world's largest flightless bird - the African ostrich, whose weight can reach more than 150 kg. Evolution took care of him by giving long neck For good review terrain and powerful legs for running quickly and hitting the enemy during a fight. Ostriches live in numerous families; They feed on vegetation, insects, lizards, rodents, but can pick up the remains of predators' meals. The funny story about ostriches hiding their heads in the sand is just a joke, but females hatching their chicks literally flatten themselves on the ground when they see danger, trying to become invisible. Due to the heat in summer, desert birds are active at night, and in winter - during the day, when it is warm.
Forest birds
Forest birds make nests in trees and bushes, as well as in hollows. Woody vegetation serves for them not only as a refuge, but also as a place for obtaining food. Therefore, the paws of most species are designed in such a way that they easily grasp branches. General features are long tails and wide, shortened wings, allowing them to quickly take off, slow down and perform tricky maneuvers between dense branches. Forest birds include most passerines, woodpeckers, owls and Galliformes.
Birds that climb vertically on trunks have claws that are curved and sharp. Some names of forest birds of this group characterize this method of movement (nuthatches). For support and balance, pikas and woodpeckers use their tails, and tits, finches and some other pichugas are able to hang from the branches from below when obtaining food. Forest predators hunt in flight, or by rapidly falling down onto their prey.
Birds of prey of the forest
Characteristic features of day and night predators of the forest are a sharp hooked beak and long claws on strong legs. In addition, they have excellent vision and hearing.
Some names of Russian birds related to forest predators: eagle owl, white owl, owl, honey buzzard, buzzard, goshawk, etc.
Origin of bird names
The names of the birds were not chosen at random: almost all of them suggest the presence of some features noticed by people. For example, names were given to the cuckoo (ku-ku), siskin (chi-chi), tit (sin-sin), rook (gra-gra), as well as hoopoe, seagull, lapwing and many other birds for their voice and style of singing.
The birds of the Urals also received names for their characteristic plumage: greenfinch, hazel grouse, redstart (jay), and such birds as the flycatcher, honey buzzard and nutcracker indicate their preferences in food. The wagtail and the wagtail are easy to distinguish by their behavior, but the nesting location of some birds is literally included in their name: the shore swallow digs holes on high banks, and the warbler hides in dense lake vegetation.
The names of birds are easy for children to remember if they resemble the sounds they make, for example, when walking, like a heron. She slowly walks through the swamp mud, as if “grabbing”, raising her long legs high, and the village dialect has modified the name of the bird from “chapel” to heron. Or if they are associated, for example, with snow, where the name of the bird bullfinch comes from.
But hunters know why the capercaillie got its name: when it displays, it is so carried away that it literally stalls and does not hear the dangerous noise at all. But when it falls silent, everything turns into attention.
Based on their habitat, names were given to birds such as the chaffinch and the robin. Small finches fly in and fly away during the chilliest, coldest months, which is why they were called that, although they themselves are quite frost-resistant. And the robin, which often settles in gardens closer to people, greets the morning and evening dawn with its ringing singing.
Bullfinch
Peculiar and Russian origin The name of the bird is the bullfinch, because it flies to our region for the winter, along with the snow, and with the onset of spring flies away to dark coniferous forests. The bullfinch is always associated with the New Year, so the image of the little red-bellied bullfinch is decorated with household items, New Year's cards and souvenirs.
The birds are part of the finch family and live in flocks, constantly calling to each other by whistling. In winter it is found even in city parks. Breeds with the onset of warm weather in the alpine and taiga forests of Eurasia, the Caucasus, and the Carpathians. It feeds on berries, seeds, and tree buds.
Waterfowl
Waterfowl, photos and names of which are given below, are those birds that are able to float on the water. These do not include species that only find food in water bodies. Due to their special way of life, they are characterized by general features: membranes between the fingers, dense plumage and the secretory coccygeal gland that lubricates the feathers.
The name of waterfowl, or rather orders, is derived from the most prominent representative: Anseriformes, pelicans, loons, gulls, penguinids, etc. The food is fish, shellfish, frogs, algae, which they get by diving into the water, like cormorants and ducks, or lowering only their heads, like swans and ducks. Seagulls can catch fish directly in flight, plunging only their beaks into the water.
Waterfowl of Russia
Waterfowl are widespread throughout the Russian Federation, photos and names of most of which are familiar to everyone. Although the majority are migratory: ducks, geese, swans, etc. At the end of summer, active migration of waterfowl to wintering areas begins. By the way, some representatives of this group spend most of the year far out to sea, returning to the shore only for nesting and hatching chicks (some ducks). The habitat can rightfully be considered Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Kamchatka, Crimea and other places with an abundance of water bodies.
Russian waterfowl, whose names are long-tailed duck and eider, live in Yakutia and on the shores of Lake Chukotka. The following breed along the Volga: moorhen, red-crested pochard, great grebes, greylag goose, mute swan, and coot.
Red birds
Among all the diversity of birds, red birds stand out especially, whose name is very exotic, as is their bright plumage. If our lentils, crossbills and bullfinches are partially painted in this color, then flamingos, tanagers, Virginia cardinals, fiery velvet weavers, and ibis are almost entirely red. Most of these birds live in tropical forests, in the south of America, in Hawaii and other islands, in Australia and Africa. They belong to passerines, weaverbirds, flamingos, storks and other species.
Different species of birds primarily differ in body size, beak shape, plumage color and habitat. It is difficult to describe all the features briefly, so we will only touch on a few. Interestingly, the beak of each bird is designed in such a way that it can easily obtain food for itself. As a result of morphological adaptation, birds were divided according to the shape of their beaks into 14 groups, including: omnivores, fishers, insectivores, skimmers, mowers, feeding on coniferous seeds, nectar or fruits, scavengers, predators and others.
As a result of observations, it was noticed that some species of birds have remarkable intelligence and ingenuity. Thus, seagulls and crows, having found a shellfish or nut, lift it into the air and then throw it on the ground to break it, repeating this manipulation several times. And green night herons throw bait in the form of a twig or leaf onto the water to attract fish. Parrots, jays and rooks are trainable human speech, and the woodpecker finch uses a thin stick to pick a crack in the bark of a tree and remove insects from there.
The role of birds in nature and for humans
The importance of birds in nature cannot be downplayed: interacting with each other and animals, they build complex relationships that contribute to natural selection. Birds help disperse seeds, and some species cross-pollinate flowering plants.
Birds of prey maintain the balance of rodent growth. And thanks to the insectivorous birds, which eat caterpillars and larvae, many crops, including agricultural ones, are preserved, which is very useful for humans. That is why all possible measures are being taken to preserve various types birds, and nature reserves are being created.
BIRDS
Fun class hour
Leading.Today we are playing games and holding competitions related to the names of birds.
Competition “Alphabet on the blackboard”
Leading.Write the names of the birds one by one: Team 1 chooses one letter, Team 2 chooses another. Whoever fails to continue loses.
a - stork,
b – golden eagle,
c – crow, sparrow,
g – dove, goose, jackdaw,
d – woodpecker, thrush,
f – crane, lark,
z – finch,
and - oriole,
k – chicken, hummingbird, cuckoo, kite, sandpiper,
l – swan. martin,
m - robin,
n - dive,
o - eagle,
p – peacock, pelican, rooster, penguin, parrot,
r – hazel grouse.
s – starling, nightingale, owl, bullfinch, swift, magpie, tit, jay, ostrich,
t – black grouse,
y - hoopoe,
f – eagle owl, flamingo, pheasant,
h – lapwing, seagull,
ts - heron,
I am a hawk.
If you can’t write, you can play this game with a circle of participants. One participant throws the ball, calling the bird “a”, the next one who gets the ball calls it “b”. This way you can check the children’s knowledge of the alphabet.
Warm-up questions
1. Which birds are considered the best rain predictors? (swallows and swifts).
2. The name of which bird warns of the approach of bad weather (petrel).
3. The heroine of the children's program CT constantly appears on the screen in evening time(Karkusha).
4. The heroine of TV channel 4 of the Ekaterinburg cable TV channel, performing every morning (Kapa).
Competition "Guess the riddle"
Children solve riddles on the topic “Birds”
Competition “Proverbs and sayings in which
there are names of birds"
For example:
A skinny chicken produces skinny eggs.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Born to crawl, cannot fly.
Staging. Theater competition
Cheerful geese
Lived with grandma - two funny goose:
One is gray, the other is white - two cheerful geese.
They stretched their necks. Who has it longer?
One is gray, the other is white. Who has it longer?
Washed gusi l apki in a puddle by the ditch.
One is gray, the other is white. They hid in a ditch.
Here the granny shouts: Oh, the geese are gone!
One is gray, the other is white My geese, geese
They went out geese, bowed grannies
One gray, the other white - they bowed to the woman
Geese and wolf
Geese, geese - Ha, ha, ha,
Do you want to eat - Yes, yes, yes.
So fly home -
We can't fly home
Greywolf under the mountain.
Sharpenes teethwants to eat us.
So fly away!
Games
Birds are flying.
The presenter lists: “Pigeons are flying, magpies are flying...” If the definition is correct, all players raise their hands. Then the presenter says: “Cats are flying” or “Dogs are flying.” Whoever raises their hands at this leaves the game.
Peacock tail
Children stand in a circle, the game begins with a counting rhyme:
1,2,3,4,5!
If you want to play-
Come out to the middle
Step on the peacock's tail!
The one on whom the counting ends will have to step on the “tail of the peacock,” and the “tail” is the chain of players that has already stretched out behind the one who said the counting. Each of them put his hands on the shoulders of the neighbor standing in front and does not allow his foot to be stepped on, moving to the side, jumping up and down, of course, the whole tail is moving. If someone's foot is stepped on, he is eliminated from the tail. You can play until the “peacock” has no tail left.
Counting tables
WhatThis?
This bird is a nightingale,
This bird is a sparrow
This bird is an owl
Sleepy little head.
This p you chka - waxwing,
This bird - crake,
This bird is a birdhouse
Gray feather.
This is a finch
This is a swift
This is a cheerful siskin,
Well, this one is an evil eagle
Birds, birds - by home...
Poetry ( V. Zhukovsky)
OnSun the dark beam glowed
In the valley the steam turns white nky
And pI sang early in the morning
In the azure the lark is ringing.
Tit
The rain hangs like smoky strands
There's an empty bird house on a pole
And the titmouse in a festive outfit
Showing off right in the rain.
A branch covered in drops,
And on a branch there is a fidget bird
Black tie, yellow jacket,
Immediately noticeable
This is not a stupid dandy,
There's a lot of cleverness here.
I examined the bushes quietly
So she found the pest.
Here on a thin raspberry twig,
The fidget sang so funny,
What from the top of the giant oak
The acorn rolled down like a tear.
L. Tatyanicheva
Bullfinches
The bushes turned red
Not from the morning dawn -
These are red lanterns
The bullfinches lit up.
Cleaning the crimson feathers,
They drink water from springs,
Playing bells
I can hear it from afar.
Leading.Augurgy is divination by birds. We have all ever asked a question to a cuckoo: “Cuckoo, cuckoo, how many years do I have to live?” Everything is clear here, as long as you cuckoo, you will live as long. Or this is the direction of flight of birds. A bird flies from left to right - this means success, discovery, goodness. If from right to left - bad sign, punishment awaits you, a cold lunch, trouble.
In Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece, and then in Russia, fortune telling was done using bird breeds. An owl screeches and interrupts someone's speech - a bad omen. A hawk flies overhead - victory awaits you in some way. The dove has flown by - wait for a meeting. Sparrow - to a quarrel.
Game with the word “lark”
|
thief crow heat early jock knife rock bark |
erysipelas leather crown Nora cake zhor funnel |
crown leg mink tap shelter cow ditch |
Birds are weather forecasters
Sparrows fly in flocks from place to place - in front of a strong wind.
Sparrows bathing in dust means rain.
Sparrows sitting puffed up - before the rain.
If sparrows chirp during prolonged bad weather, then you can expect the onset of clear weather.
The pigeons cooed - a bucket will be installed.
Larks walking around the field means good weather, and sitting puffed up means a thunderstorm.
The swallows were speeding up from below - before the rain.
Swallows fly up and down - before the storm.
Birds sing cheerfully - for good weather.
The owl screams - to the cold.
The nightingale sings incessantly all night - before a fine day.
A crow cries in summer - for rain, in winter - for a snowstorm.
Crows “play” on the fly - towards the bucket.
Crows croak - bad weather.
In the evening, jackdaws gather in a crowd and scream - for clear weather.
Rhyming games
I've been catching bugs all day
I eat worms.
I’m not flying to a warm land,
I live here, under the roof.
Tick-tweet! Don't be timid!
I'm experienced... (sparrow).
Color – grayish,
Habit - thieving,
Hoarse screamer -
Famous person. This... (crow).
The black bird is circling,
He’s not afraid – he sits down with us
Peck my food:
Suddenly there won't be enough pasta
For the gluttonous... (crow).
Of all the migratory birds,
Cleans the arable land from worms,
Jump across the arable land all day long,
And the bird's name is... ( rook).
An important man walks a little waddle,
Although he is not wild, he is domestic,
Better me beware:
Pinched my sister... ( goose).
In the forest to the chirping and whistling
The forest telegraph operator knocks:
“Great, buddy blackbird! ~
And signs: ... ( woodpecker).
Even though she's vagrant,
migratory bird,
But in the spring I always
I admire the singing... ( blackbird).
Here he is flying in the open air,
Leaving the sea behind,
Rivers, groves and fields
Under the wing of... ( crane).
In April, in April
It's chilly in the wind.
Sang, sang
... (finches) In the woods.
“Y” is on the tails of birds and animals,
Here's an ermine, and here... (sparrow).
How an egg will lay,
Sings loudly throughout the yard,
So that the street knows:
Working here... (chicken).
flutters over the field,
Above the free expanse,
Gets up early
Spring bird... (oatmeal).
He builds a house on a rock.
Isn't it scary to live in it?
At least there is beauty all around?
No, the owner is not afraid
Roll down a steep cliff -
Two mighty wings
The owner has... ( eagle).
Their nests are at the edge of the cliff
Children are raised there by mountain people... ( eagles).
The donkey wandered lazily up the hill,
And over the mountain soared... (an eagle).
Let's go to bed. The light went out.
And it will wake us up... (rooster).
In winter there are apples on the branches,
Collect them quickly!
And suddenly the apples flew up.
After all, this... (bullfinches).
Guess what kind of bird:
Afraid of bright light
Beak with a hook, eyes with a snout,
Eared head. This... (owl).
Who is without notes and without a pipe
He produces trills best of all,
Who is this? ( nightingale).
Vereschunya, white-sided,
And her name is... ( magpie).
I don't believe my eyes
How bright are his feathers!
Fashion didn’t deprive me
Beautiful... (hoopoe).
The time is ringing,
In the morning the sun greets you,
Here the last ray has gone out -
Sleeps on a perch ( rooster)
Don't scare me with a loud scream
Us, beautiful (parrot)
He sang solo among the branches
The singer was named ( nightingale)
Nice guys
The chicken has - ( corydalis)
Rock the sea, -
Asked ( gull)
And in the light he is powerless,
Only scary at night ( owl)
In this article I will review all the birds of Russia. You will learn what types of birds live in our country, what they are called, how they are classified and why they are unique. I will give photographs of the most interesting species.
Russia is located on a territory that is divided into 5 zones. This is a large number of geographical zones in which a certain habitat is created. Therefore, the biodiversity of birds in Russia is large - 790 species. For taxonomy, they are classified into the class Aves of the phylum Chordata. The class is divided into orders, and they, in turn, into families.
Birds of Russia are divided into 21 orders and 76 families. They also include individuals that became extinct relatively recently. There are 7 types of them in Russia. The most famous of them is the red-footed ibis, the last individual was found in 1990 in the Amur region.
Related species that are similar in some characteristics form families, and those, in turn, form orders. Some orders include only a few species, others - hundreds.
In total, 657 species of birds nest in our country.
Migratory - they fly south in the fall, their main diet being insects. They are called sedentary - those who never leave their area. They mainly feed on grain feed.
Vagrants - (about 110 species) are observed in Russia during migrations. They fly in less often by accident or in search of food in cases of climate change and food conditions in the area. These are often called nomadic.
About 130 species of Russian birds are included in the Red Book as vulnerable and close to extinction. Saving species diversity is carried out by the Russian Bird Conservation Union.
The main reason for the disappearance of birds is human activity. Deforestation, urbanization, water and air pollution, fishing and the use of pesticides in agriculture.
Every person can contribute to the protection of birds. You can reduce the use of chemicals in gardens, feed wintering birds, and care for chicks that have fallen from the nest.
Stork-like or ankle-footed
This order includes herons (herons, bitterns), ibises and storks.
Russia is home to 26 species of storks, some of which come during the migration season. These are birds that have adapted to life in wetlands and shallow waters.
Many species have high legs, a long neck and a strong beak, making it easier for them to move across muddy ground and grab mobile aquatic animals. They live along the banks of lakes, rivers, seas and in swamps. They rarely settle in fields.
Among the storks of Russia there are many rare species.
The black stork is a representative with a unique color, included in the Red Book.
The stork has a white belly, blue-black feathers, and 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, and therefore has been little studied.
Ibises are mainly found in the south of Russia, some species are just migratory. 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 region and on the Volga delta. She is more active at dusk and mostly leads a solitary lifestyle.
Petrel-like
The order includes long-winged and short-tailed seabirds.
A characteristic feature is the special structure of the beak.
The nostrils are extended forward in the form of horny tubes, which are located along the surface of the beak. Hence the second name of the order - tubenoses.
They spend most of their time above the sea, returning to land only for nesting. Long and narrow wings allow birds to fly or soar over water without landing. They feed on plankton, fish, carrion, attack living small birds and destroy nests.
Albatross and petrel
The most famous representatives are albatrosses and petrels.
The white-backed albatross is a giant of the air 
Storm petrels
Less known are storm petrels - small (20-50 g) seabirds.
The name comes from the colloquial word - to die; in the old days birds were considered the souls of dead sailors.
Live on the coast Pacific Ocean. They feed on plankton, fry or fishing waste. Therefore, at night you can see an interesting sight - flocks of storm petrels flocking to the light of ships.
Copepods
Common features from this order are 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, mainly on sparsely inhabited 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 and forms the most numerous bird colonies.
The pink pelican lives on the islands Sea of Azov and the Volga delta.
It has Russian name- woman bird. Pink pelicans are distinguished by organized fishing - this is a rarity.
They gather in groups and drive the fish towards the shore, flapping their wings heavily on the water. Interestingly, this happens at the same time from 8 to 9 o'clock.
Sometimes they fly to Russia tropical birds- gannets.
Passeriformes
Some species live in close proximity to people. 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 helpers for humans in the fight against insect pests in agriculture and forestry. However, granivores - sparrows and weavers - can cause significant damage to the crop.
Endemics:
- Naumann's thrush;
- Siberian lentils;
- yellow-browed bunting;
- Siberian Pipit.
Some passerine species lead a sedentary lifestyle. Living in regions with sudden climate changes, they fly away for the winter.
The red-headed wren is the smallest bird in Europe with an average weight of only 5.1 g. It lives in the Pskov region and Crimea.
The robin or robin lives throughout the central part of Russia up to the Ob River. The robin is known as the teacher of cuckoo chicks and for its incessant singing.
The order 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 Mountains and Tuva. Loons are waterfowl the size of domestic goose. They spend most of their time on the water; they move on land with difficulty, as if they are sliding on their belly.
They are capable of diving to a depth of 21 m and feed exclusively on small fish.
They mainly live in the sea, visiting freshwater bodies only during migration or breeding.
They winter on the Black Sea. They return back by a different route - first they fly to the Baltic Sea, then to the northern coasts to the nesting site.
Loon meat is eaten by the indigenous people of the Far North. Previously, women's hats and collars were made from the skins, but the fashion for such products has passed - the fishery is no longer carried out.
Pigeonidae
This order unites 12 species of pigeons and doves.
Common characteristics are a short neck, small head, rounded body, short legs, long and pointed wings. They mainly feed on seeds, berries, grains, and fruits.
The most famous representative is the rock pigeon, habituated by man in ancient times. Subsequently, breeds of domestic pigeons were developed from this species through selection. The rock pigeon is found in almost all cities; wild relatives live on coastal rocks and cliffs near agricultural farms.
A unique feature of pigeons is their unmistakable determination of the way back home.
Therefore they were used in the postal service.
Very rare view pigeon, listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, lives on Far East. This is a Japanese green pigeon with an unusual color: a bright green body and gray wings. The bird is secretive and cautious, very little has been studied.
Anseriformes
This order includes all species of ducks, geese and swans.
They are of different sizes, for example, the mute swan weighs about 13 kg, and the whistling teal only 300 g. All species live near bodies of water: swamps, lakes, river mouths. Some lead a marine lifestyle, visiting land only for nesting.
A distinctive feature of Anseriformes is the membranes between the toes, which facilitate movement on the water.
They swim and dive well and can spend up to 3 minutes underwater.
Most species fly well. Every year they cover several thousand kilometers during their flight to their wintering grounds. They feed on fish, algae and plants. To ease digestion, small pebbles are regularly swallowed. These are mostly monogamous representatives - in some species, pairs form for life. For example, mute swans.
Which live only in Russia:
- teal;
- red-breasted 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, and red flowers.
Birds mostly stay on the surface of the water and practically do not dive
They eat plant foods and nest in tree hollows. Unlike other species, ducks love to rest on rock ledges and tree branches.
Woodpeckers
Feature all species - a developed, chisel-shaped, completely horny beak. They use it to chisel wood, removing larvae and insects.
This order includes 11 species of woodpeckers.
Woodpeckers have a stocky body, short legs, blunt and wide wings. Various colors: variegated, black, green, orange. Many species have a bright red oval spot on the top of their 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 lead a sedentary lifestyle, except for the woodpecker, which winters in Africa, India or Southeast Asia. IN mating season Woodpeckers form pairs by hollowing out holes for nesting.
Crane-like
This order includes birds of varying appearance, internal structure and lifestyle. These are cranes, bustards and rails. They mainly live in swamps and rarely nest in trees. The difference in size is impressive: from 15 cm to 2 m.
There are 23 species of crane-like creatures living in Russia, 13 of which are listed in the Red Book.
The endemic species 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 near farmland and pastures.
They create a pair for life; before nesting, they cover their feathers with silt and dirt to hide from predators while hatching eggs. They winter in Africa, India or China.
The rail family includes:
- 8 types of crakes,
- landrail,
- moorhen,
- sultana,
- coot.
They live near bodies of water, with the exception of the corncrake. It nests in a forest or forest-steppe zone. This is a commercial fish - a desirable catch for hunters. The corncrake is distinguished by long-distance flights - for wintering it flies to the southern regions of Africa.
Another interesting representative of this order is the bustard. It inhabits semi-arid steppes or forest-steppes, feeding on insects, seeds of plants and grain crops. Calmly tolerates low temperature, but with prolonged snow cover it can die. In Tsarist Russia, the bustard was considered a princely game.
Nightjars
There are 2 species of nightjars in Russia; their range is Primorye, Southern Siberia, and Transbaikalia. For wintering they fly to South Africa. These are nocturnal birds that inhabit light pine forests, clearings and vacant lots.
Characteristic features are a relatively large head and eyes, a short beak, a wide mouth, long tail and wings. The legs are short and poorly adapted to moving on the ground. They feed on nocturnal insects and nest directly on the ground.
The bird got its name - nightjars - undeservedly; previously people were mistaken and believed that they captured the udders of goats with their beaks and drank milk.
This is wrong.
Cuckoo-like
There are 5 species of cuckoos in Russia.
Birds have different sizes and are united by characteristics: 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 the weaker chicks of their adoptive parents out of the nest.
The common cuckoo is the most common species in our country. It is of medium size, weighing up to 190 g. The cuckoo leads a secretive and silent lifestyle. Only in spring and the first half of summer can you hear the mating song of males. The most famous and measured sound: ku-ku, ku-ku. In clear weather, the voice of the cuckoo can be heard at a distance of 2 km.
Galliformes
This order includes birds leading a terrestrial lifestyle. Many species of chickens do not fly at all. Appearance and the anatomical features of birds are adapted for life on land and protection from predators.
General characteristics: dense build, small head on a short neck, strong legs, wide and short wings, small and convex beak. All this allows birds to get food from the surface of the ground, run quickly and dig the soil.
The squad includes:
- partridges;
- black grouse;
- capercaillie;
- pheasants;
- quail;
- Siberian grouse;
- snowcocks;
- grouse.
One of the rarest birds is the grouse. This species is on the verge of extinction.
The reason is that grouse are absolutely not afraid of humans. This led to their mass destruction. Taiga hunters have a tradition of not killing grouse, leaving it to weakened travelers. She eats pine needles, so the meat is slightly bitter.
The capercaillie received its Russian name due to the complete loss of vigilance of males during mating, which hunters always take advantage of. This is the largest of this family, gaining weight up to 6.5 kg.
All species of Galliformes are commercial objects. The meat of hazel grouse, pheasant, and quail is considered a delicacy and is served in expensive restaurants.
Grebes
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 structural features.
The bones of grebes are not hollow, so they have a deeper seat in the water. There are no characteristic webbing between the toes, but there are leathery blades protruding from both sides of the legs. Therefore, grebes do not row under themselves, as ducks do, but work with their legs behind them, like a ship’s propeller. Another feature is the extremely unpleasant taste of meat. Hence the Russian name - toadstool.
Grebes swim and dive well, but their backward legs prevent them from moving well on the ground. Therefore, they lead an aquatic lifestyle, moving to land only for rest or nesting. In Russia, toadstools are found in different climatic zones from the Kola Peninsula to the Aral Sea region.
Coraciiformes
This order includes small and medium-sized birds, with hard and predominantly bright plumage. They are thermophilic - 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 southwest Siberia. Many species are just migrating.
The order includes 5 species of kingfishers, roller, bee-eater and eastern broadmouth.
The most common bird in Russia is the roller. Up to 35 cm long and weighing up to 200 g. The general color is greenish-blue, the flight wings are sand-colored. Rollers fly low, but are almost impossible to see on the ground. The structure of the stocky and long legs makes moving on the surface uncomfortable. The main food is large insects, sometimes small rodents and reptiles.
Hoopioformes
The only species from this order in Russia is the hoopoe.
It is a small bird with bright striped plumage and an orange crest on its head. When landing on the ground, the crest spreads out like a fan.
Lives throughout central Russia and parts of Eastern Siberia in open area with sparse thickets of bushes. They are representatives warm regions lead a sedentary lifestyle, migrating from colder latitudes to Turkmenistan or Azerbaijan.
They mainly lead a terrestrial lifestyle, run very quickly, and in case of danger they press down to the ground, raising their crest upward. They feed on insects, larvae and small reptiles.
An interesting feature of hoopoes is the secretion of an oily liquid with an unpleasant odor from the coccygeal gland during incubation of eggs.
This is a specific protection of the masonry from terrestrial predators. But because of this feature, people consider the bird to be unclean.
Plover
This is a large order that includes about 170 species of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds. Representatives differ greatly in appearance and behavioral characteristics. But birds have general signs. All birds are attached to the sea or fresh water bodies and are adapted to cold climate conditions.
Endemic birds of Russia:
- sandpiper;
- little curlew;
- ash snail;
- Okhotsk snail
Most 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 have settled near humans - they feed in garbage dumps, arable lands 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 belly are pale pink, the back and wings are ash-colored, and there is a thin black collar on the neck.
Snipes are found in north-central Russia and Siberia. These are mainly migratory birds. Most known species for us - woodcock. It was repeatedly mentioned in literature by classics: A. P. Chekhov, I. S. Turgenev, L. N. Tolstoy. The woodcock is densely built and the size of a city pigeon. The color is camouflage: rusty-brown with black, gray, and red streaks, so it is difficult to notice against the background of old foliage. Woodcock is an object of sport hunting.
Another representative of the order is skuas.
All 5 Russian species live in polar regions.
They fly quickly, but move awkwardly on the ground and do not dive. They nest on rocky, sparsely inhabited 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 order also contains the family of auks. They have black and white plumage, stand upright when walking, and live in 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.
Sandgrouse
There are 3 species living in Russia - from this order.
In appearance they resemble pigeons - a small head, short beak, low legs, long wings and a wedge-shaped tail. They have thick plumage and thick skin to protect them from overheating. A characteristic feature is feathering 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. Prefer sandy deserts, feed on plant seeds. In cases of danger, they press themselves to the ground and freeze. Due to their camouflage color, they become invisible to predators. For nesting they are divided into pairs. The chicks are fed food stuffed into the crop, and water is brought in on the wet belly feathers.
Owls
This order includes predatory representatives that are mainly nocturnal. All of them are distinguished by a large head, large eyes, sharp beak and claws, and camouflage color.
Anatomical features differ significantly from the structure of daytime predators, therefore owls are separated into a separate order.
The special skeleton allows owls to turn their heads 270°, fly silently, hear well, and cause the eyes to remain motionless.
The barn owl, which lives in the Kaliningrad region, has been identified as a separate genus. 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 heart-shaped facial disc.
There are 17 species of owls living in Russia.
The barn owl's reaction to humans is interesting. When approaching her, she rises and begins to sway in different directions on her legs, while various grimaces are depicted on her face.
The most famous representative of owls is the common eagle owl. Weight up to 3.2 kg and body length up to 75 cm.
Inhabits the entire territory of Russia, except for the Arctic zones.
It settles in a variety of 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 and sometimes settles in parks or farms.
All owl birds play a significant role in protecting rural areas and forestry from rodents.
Therefore, they are protected; many species are included in the Red Book. During the course of observations, it was proven that the tawny owl destroys up to 1000 mice and voles per year, which during the same period damage more than 500 kg of grain.
Falconiformes
The detachment consists of diurnal predators. 45 species live in Russia. All of them are distinguished by a strong physique with developed muscles, sharp eyesight and high flight speed. They mainly feed on meat, but some species eat insects and fish. For example, honey beetles and osprey.
Many unique species. The Steller's sea eagle is one of the largest eagles, its body weight can reach up to 9 kg. Inhabits Kamchatka, the lower reaches of the Amur River and along the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk.
Snake eater or karachun
The snake eagle or karachun is one of the most distrustful and timid birds of prey. They nest in impassable places remote from humans and 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 common throughout Russia; they nest on rocky shores of water bodies. However, some couples settle in close proximity to a person. Falcons lived on St. Isaac's Cathedral in Leningrad (1950), Moscow high-rise (1960s), Moscow State University building (2008).
This order includes vultures, eagles, hawks, harriers, eagles, and kites. Many species of birds are rare and are included in the Red Book of Russia and other countries.
Swift-shaped
The order includes 5 species of swifts, one of which accidentally flies from central Asia.
The birds are unique in that they spend most of their time outdoors, landing only to nest.
The structure of their legs does not allow swifts to move on the surface - they drink, eat and even sleep on the fly. These are one of the fastest birds in the world - they can reach speeds of up to 170 km/h.
This order includes the buffy hummingbird. The only species of the hummingbird family in Russia. The bird's habitat is Alaska and northern California, but hummingbirds are periodically observed in Russia. In 1976, the bird lived on Ratmanov Island, and is currently found on Chukotka and Wrangel Island.
Flamingoformes
The only species from this order that has been recorded in Russia is the common flamingo. Wild birds fly to Dagestan, Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories, less often to Yakutia and Southern Siberia during migration.
This is an amazingly beautiful bird with a soft pink color and purple-red wings. The large beak, disproportionate to the head, is curved and pink in color with a black tip. The birds have very long bright pink legs, a strong body and a curved neck. Body weight reaches 3.5 -4 kg. Flamingo
Russia has a surprisingly large variety of birds.
We are accustomed to observing only the most common birds; we often 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 characteristics and way of life.