Who flies to warmer climes in the fall. Migratory birds: names for children, description, list. Photo of migratory birds with names for children

Wonderful pictures with migratory and wintering birds. Which birds stay wintering in their homeland, and which ones fly away?

Walking in a park or forest, we listen to the birds singing and often just don’t think about which bird trills so nicely. There are birds that live in our area all year round, but there are also those who fly away to "warm lands" in the fall.

The fact is that in winter it is very difficult for birds to find food for themselves, because insects, berries and grains become scarce, and when snow falls, they are almost impossible to find at all. And different types birds solve this problem in different ways: migratory birds fly hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to warmer countries, and sedentary ones adapt to our harsh winters.

Titmouse in the snow, which, apparently, wants to feast on seeds

Settled, wintering birds: list, photo with names

Feeders are hung up to help the birds that have stayed over the winter find food. And it is quite possible that they will be of interest to such visitors:

• Sparrow. Noisy sparrows that fly in flocks may well become the first visitors to the feeder.

• Tit. Tits are in many ways not inferior to sparrows, they quickly rush to feed in the feeders. But compared to sparrows, tits are endowed with a more meek disposition. It is interesting that in summer the titmouse eats almost as much food as it weighs itself. Often in the feeders you can observe mixed flocks, consisting of both sparrows and titmouse.

• gaichka. A close relative of the titmouse. However, the breast of the nut is not yellow, but light brown. Also, the tit differs from other tits in that it makes a hollow in a tree to make a nest in it.

Gaitka - a special type of tits

• Crow. Ravens are often confused with rooks. It is known that crows are very rare in the western part of Russia. Therefore, if you live in the European part of Russia and see a black bird making a shrill croak, then most likely you have a rook in front of you.

• Pigeon. The distribution and lifestyle of pigeons was largely influenced by people who simply brought them with them to different parts of the Earth. Now pigeons are found on all continents with the exception of Antarctica. Pigeons easily change rocks, which are natural environment their habitats, on buildings created by man.

The nodding gait of pigeons is due to the fact that it is easier for them to see the object of interest to them.

• Woodpecker. AT warm time Year woodpeckers feed mainly on insects, which they get from under the bark of trees, and in the winter cold, they can also eat plant foods: seeds and nuts.

• Magpie. Magpie is considered a bird with high intelligence, it is able to express a lot of emotions, including sadness and knows how to recognize its reflection in the mirror. Interestingly, not only its brethren, but also other birds, as well as wild animals, in particular bears and wolves, react to the alarming cry of a magpie.

Magpie - winter bird

• Owl. Owls are different, large and small, in total there are more than 200 species. These birds are endowed with sharp eyesight and excellent hearing, which allows them to lead a nocturnal lifestyle. It is interesting that the tassels on the head of an owl are not ears, the real ears of owls are hidden in feathers, and one of them is directed upwards, and the other downwards, in order to better hear what is happening above the head and on the ground.

Owl - nocturnal bird

• This bird is also considered an owl and is a close relative of other owls.

• A rare owl that lives mainly in mountainous areas in northern latitudes. The name of the bird different versions means "inedible" or "insatiable".

• Jackdaw. Outwardly, jackdaws look like rooks and crows, moreover, there are mixed flocks in which you can see all three types of birds. However, the jackdaw is smaller than the crow. And if you are lucky enough to watch a jackdaw up close, then you can easily recognize it by the gray color of some of the feathers.

• Nuthatch. This little bird climbs tree trunks very dexterously. In summer, nuthatches hide seeds and nuts in the bark, and in winter they feed on these supplies.

• Crossbill. Like the nuthatch, this bird is an excellent tree climber and can hang upside down on branches. Crossbill's favorite food is seeds from spruce and pine cones. This bird is notable for the fact that it can hatch chicks even in winter, but only if there is enough food.

• Bullfinch. Only males have bright red plumage on the chest, females look much more modest. Bullfinches are more often seen in winter, because due to lack of food, they are drawn to people. In summer, bullfinches prefer wooded areas and behave inconspicuously, so it is not easy to see them.

• waxwing. A bird with beautiful plumage and a singing voice. In summer it feeds mainly on insects and likes to settle in coniferous forests. In winter, the waxwing moves to the more southern regions of the country; it is often found in cities. In the cold season, mountain ash and other fruits become the main food for birds.

• Jay. large bird, which, however, can fly to feast on a feeder hung by people. In summer, it is rarely seen in the city, but closer to winter, the bird begins to reach for human habitation.

• Wren. One of the smallest birds, the weight of an adult male is only 5-7 grams. Kings are relatives of sparrows.

Wren - an inhabitant of the forests

• . A large bird that is a favorite trophy for many hunters. Pheasants can fly, but more often they move on foot.

• Grouse. It is also an object of hunting, despite the fact that this bird is quite small. The weight of an adult hazel grouse rarely reaches 500 g. It is interesting that the largest population of these birds lives in Russia.

The hazel grouse is a bird that is related to the black grouse

• Another bird that is related to hunting. Grouse are found on the edge of the forest and in the forest-steppe.

• Falcon. It is considered one of the smartest birds on the planet and one of the best hunters. The falcon is able to work in tandem with a man, but it is very difficult to tame him.

• . Like the falcon, it is a bird of prey. A hawk's vision is 8 times sharper than a human's. And rushing for prey, the hawk can reach speeds of up to 240 km / h.

Migratory, nomadic birds: list, photo with names

• Rooks differ from crows in a gray-yellow beak. In the Kuban and Ukraine, you can see how in the fall the rooks gather in huge flocks, so large that the sky seems black from the birds soaring in it - these are rooks that fly south. However, rooks are only conditionally migratory birds, some of them remain to winter in middle lane Russia, part winters in Ukraine, and only some birds fly for the winter to the warm shores of Turkey.

• they love to fly to freshly dug up land, sometimes they fly right behind a plowing tractor in order to have time to get as many worms and larvae from the dug up land as possible.

• This inconspicuous bird with a singing voice loves warmth, and therefore flies south in autumn. And for wintering, our native nightingales have chosen hot Africa. These birds fly to winter in the eastern part of the continent - Kenya and Ethiopia. However, enjoy their singing locals they cannot, because nightingales sing only during the mating season, which takes place in their homeland.

• Martin. Swallows love rocky terrain, they often settle on the sheer walls of quarries that people have dug out. However, our winters are too severe for swallows, and therefore in autumn they fly to the southern, farthest from us, part of Africa or to Tropical Asia.

• Chizh. Like the rook, it is a migratory bird that arrives early and winters nearby: in the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and southern Europe. Outwardly, siskins are inconspicuous, their gray-green feathers are absolutely not striking against the background of branches. The nature of the bird matches the appearance: quiet and meek.

• Goldfinch. In Europe, it is a wintering bird, however, in Russia, goldfinches can only be seen in summer. By winter, goldfinches gather in flocks and go to lands with a warmer climate. Goldfinches are close relatives of siskins.

Goldfinch is one of the most colorful birds

• A slender bird that runs fast on the ground and shakes its tail with every step. Wagtails spend winter in East Africa, South Asia and sometimes in southern Europe.

• Quail. The only bird from the order Galliformes, which is migratory. The weight of an adult quail is not so great and is 80-150 g. In summer, quails can be found in fields sown with wheat and rye. Quail winters far beyond the borders of our Motherland: in southern Africa and southern Asia, on the Hindustan peninsula.

• Thrush. The song thrush with its sweet trills creates worthy competition with the nightingale. BUT appearance him, like the nightingale, inconspicuous. In winter, thrushes become Europeans: Italy, France and Spain are their second home.

• lark. Larks return from warm countries very early, sometimes already in March you can hear their sonorous song, which becomes a harbinger spring warmth. And larks winter in Southern Europe.

• Gull. With the onset of cold weather, gulls living on the coasts of the northern seas migrate to the Black and Caspian Seas. But over the years, seagulls are more and more drawn to people, and more and more often they stay to spend the winter in cities.

• . Swifts winter in Africa, and reach its equatorial part or even go to the southern part of the mainland.

• Starlings are in great need of birdhouses, since most often they breed offspring in them. And our starlings go to winter in Southern Europe and East Africa.

This bizarre black cloud is a flock of starlings returning home

• Finch. Finches from the western part of the country winter mainly in Central Europe and the Mediterranean, and finches living near the Urals in summer go for wintering to South Kazakhstan and southern regions of Asia.

Finch - a noisy inhabitant of the forest

• Heron. It is rather difficult to determine where the herons winter, some of them travel huge distances to South Africa, some winter in the Crimea or the Kuban, and in the Stavropol Territory, herons sometimes even remain to winter at all.

• Crane. These birds are monogamous, and once having chosen a partner, they remain faithful to him all their lives. Cranes nest in swampy areas. And their wintering places are as diverse as those of herons: Southern Europe, Africa and even China - in all these parts of the world you can meet cranes that have flown from Russia to spend the winter.

• Stork. In Russia there are black and white storks. White storks make huge nests up to one and a half meters wide and make very long flights to the south. Sometimes they overcome half the planet and reach South Africa, a country located in the very south of Africa.

• Swan. The swan is a bird that represents devotion and romance. Swans are waterfowl, so for wintering they choose places near the water, often the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea.

• Duck. Wild ducks in winter, as a rule, do not fly far and remain in the expanses of the post-Soviet states. It is noteworthy that their domestic relatives also begin to worry in the fall and sometimes try to fly away, sometimes they even fly over fences and fly short distances.

• . Cuckoos settle in forests, and in the forest-steppe, and in the steppe. The vast majority of cuckoos fly to winter in tropical and South Africa, less often cuckoos winter in South Asia: in India and China.

• . A small bird with a singing voice and bright plumage that flies to the tropics for the winter.

• . They wake up at dawn and are among the first to start the morning song. Previously, this little songbird was called a robin. Robins fly to winter in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, returning home among the first.

What is the difference between migratory birds and wintering birds: presentation for preschoolers

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Slide 3: presentation of migratory birds

Why do migratory birds fly to warmer climes where they spend the winter, why do they come back?

Winter is a severe test for birds. And only those who, in harsh conditions, can get food for themselves remain to winter.

What could be the ways for birds to survive in the cold season?

• Some birds store food in the summer for the winter. They hide plant seeds, nuts, acorns, caterpillars and larvae in grass and cracks in tree bark. These birds include the nuthatch.
• Some birds are not afraid of people and live close to residential buildings. In winter, they find food in feeders and on garbage heaps.
• Some birds are predators and feed on rodents. There are birds of prey that can feed on hares, hunt fish, small birds and bats.

If a bird can find food for itself in winter, then it does not need to go on a tiring and difficult flight to warmer climes in the fall.

It would seem that everything is simple, and the only reason for the seasonal migration of birds is the lack of food. But in reality there are more questions than answers. For example, imagine that a wild duck, which is a migratory bird, is provided with an artificially heated pond and sufficient food. Will she stay for the winter? Of course not. She will be called on a long journey, a strong feeling that is difficult to explain, called a natural instinct.

It turns out that birds fly away to warmer climes, as if out of habit, because their ancestors did this for hundreds and thousands of years.

Another question to be answered: why do birds return from warm countries every spring? Ornithologists have concluded that the start of the return flight is associated with the activation of sex hormones and the start of the breeding season. But why do birds fly thousands of kilometers and breed chicks exactly where they themselves were born? Poets and romantic natures say that birds, like people, are simply drawn to their homeland.

How do migratory birds know where to fly? A question to which, to this day, there is no intelligible answer. It has been experimentally proven that birds can navigate in a completely unfamiliar area and in conditions of limited visibility, when neither the sun nor the stars are visible. They have an organ that allows them to navigate the Earth's magnetic field.

But the mystery remains how the juveniles, who have never flown to warmer climes before, find their wintering grounds themselves, and how do they know the route to fly? It turns out in birds, on genetic level information about the point on the map where you need to fly is recorded and moreover, a route is drawn to it.

Do migratory birds nest in the south?

Birds wintering in warm regions do not lay eggs and do not incubate chicks, which means they do not need a nest. A nest is needed only for chicks, which migratory birds will incubate in their homeland.

Which birds are the first and last to arrive in spring?

They arrive first in the spring rooks. These birds return to their homeland in early spring, when the first thawed patches appear in the snow. With their strong beak, rooks dig larvae on such thawed patches, which form the basis of their diet.

The last to arrive are birds that feed on flying insects. These are swallows, swifts, orioles. The diet of these birds consists of:

• Komarov
• Moshek
• gadflies
• Zhukov
• cicada
• butterflies

Because for the appearance a large number adult flying insects from larvae need warm weather and about two weeks of time, then the birds that feed on them fly home after the mass appearance of these insects.

Which birds are the first and last to fly away in autumn?

With the onset of autumn cold weather, insects complete their active life cycle and go into hibernation. Therefore, the birds that feed on insects are the first to fly to warm lands. Then the birds that feed on the plants fly away. Waterfowl are the last to leave. For them, even in autumn, there is enough food in the water. And they fly away before the water in the reservoirs begins to freeze.

VIDEO: Birds fly south

A flock of what migratory birds promises snow?

By folk omens if a flock of wild birds flew south geese- expect the first snowfall. This sign may not match the real ones. weather events. So in the north of Russia, geese fly to warmer climes in mid-September, and snow can fall much earlier. Let's say the first snow in Norilsk fell on August 25 this year. In the south, geese fly to warmer climes at the end of October, and sometimes even at the beginning of November. The first snow in these areas may fall at this time. But it all depends on the weather conditions in autumn. Indian summer here can drag on for the whole of October.

VIDEO: Geese gather in flocks for flights to the south

Which bird in the order Galliformes is a migratory bird?

A migratory bird from the order Galliformes is quail. The quail's habitat extends beyond Russia in the west and south. In the east, these birds live up to the western coast of Lake Baikal. They are distributed in Europe, Western Asia and Africa.

They fly south for the winter. And they winter in Hindustan, North Africa and Southwest Asia.

VIDEO: How do migratory birds fly?

Since early years we know that in autumn a lot of species of birds begin to appear in the sky, heading south. But often both children and adults find it difficult to answer what kind of birds they are. But before answering this question, let's find out what groups birds are divided into.

scientists all existing species The birds were divided into two groups. One included migratory, and the other wintering. All birds are warm-blooded, that is, their average body temperature is about 41 degrees.

Many also believe that they have to leave their homes because they can freeze in winter. But this is not the main reason, just winter period it will be very difficult for them to find their own food. Thus, those species of birds that are able to get food for themselves in the cold period can be attributed to wintering.

These species include woodpecker, capercaillie, titmouse, nuthatch, jay, pika, hazel grouse, black grouse. In addition to them, some inhabitants of the cities also remain for the winter, who at any time will be able to get their own food.

What birds fly away in autumn?

First of all, insectivorous bird species, such as the wagtail, fly away in autumn. As long as it remains possible to find seeds or fruits, granivores are still in place. But as soon as the snow falls, or rather, when the grains are hidden under a layer of snow, siskins, buntings and finches fly away. And many people probably know which birds fly last in the fall. Waterfowl ducks and geese begin to leave their homes when rivers and ponds begin to be shackled by ice floes.

In addition, some species of birds, both wintering and migratory, leave their habitats depending on weather conditions. In cases where the year turned out to be fruitful, and at the same time there was little snow, bullfinch, tap dance, waxwing, and walnut may remain for the winter. But in cases where the feeding situation is unfavorable, they begin to adjoin the birds that are going to fly south.

Birds are also divided into migratory and wintering, depending on the area of ​​​​residence of these individuals. For example, in northern regions towards the south, even ravens and rooks begin to fly away, and their southern counterparts in this period remain in place. Blackbirds from Central Russia fly away for the winter, and Western Europe they do not leave their habitats.

Complete list of migratory birds

1. Gray Heron - Ardea cinerea	30. Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
2. Buzzard - Buteo buteo	31. Mistle - Turdus viscivorus
3. Harrier - Circus cyaneus	32. Whitebrow - Turdus iliacus
4. Cheglok - Falco subbuteo	33. Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
5. Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus	34. Blackbird - Turdus merula
6. Quail - Coturnix coturnix	35. Meadow mint - Saxicola rubetra
7. Crake - Crex crex	36. Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus
8. Coot - Fulica atra	37. Robin - Erithacus rubecula
9. Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus	38. Common nightingale - Luscinia luscinia
10. Tie - Charadrius hiaticula	39. Bluethroat - Luscinia svecica
11. Blackie - Tringa ochropus	40. Garden warbler - Sylvia borin
12. Woodcock -Skolopax rusticola	41. Gray Warbler - Sylvia communis
13. Black-headed gull - Larus ridibundus	42. Warbler-Sylvia curruca
14. Common tern - Sterna hirundo	43. Black-headed warbler - Sylvia atricapilla
15. Klintukh - Columbia oenas	44. Willow warbler -Philloscopus trochilus
16. Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus	45. Chiffchaff - Philloscopus collibita
17. Common Nightjar - Caprimulgus europaeus	46. ​​Ratchet Warbler -Philloscopus sibilatrix
18. Black swift - Apus apus	47. Green warbler - Philloscopus trochiloides
19. Vertineck - Junx torquilla	48. Marsh warbler - Acrocephalus palustris
20. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica	49. Garden warbler - Acrocephalus dumetorum
21. City swallow - Delichon urbica	50. Badger warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
22. Shoreline -Riparia riparia	51. Common cricket - Locustella naevia
23. Field lark - Alauda arvensis	52. River cricket - Locustella fluviatilis
24. Forest Pipit - Anthus trivialis	53. Gray Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
25. White Wagtail - Motacilla alba	54. Pied flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca
26. Common Shrike - Lanius collurio	55. Small flycatcher - Ficedula parva
27. Oriole — Oreolus oreolus	56. Finch - Fringila coelebs
28. Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes	57. Common lentil - Carpodacus erythrinus
29. Forest Accentor - Prunella modularis	58. Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniculus

Autumn is the time when you can watch flocks of migratory birds heading to warm countries. Where do birds fly for the winter, and which birds are classified as migratory? Birds that prefer to stay for the winter in their region are called sedentary. Among them are pigeons, sparrows, tits, and crossbills are able to breed in the most severe frosts.

wandering birds

There are nomadic birds - they fly away only in very severe cold, and when relatively warm winter can stay in their region. This is carduelis, schury, siskin, waxwings, bullfinches. Gray crows and rooks roam in the northern regions, and remain sedentary in the southern regions. Some birds migrate only in years that are unfavorable for their food, for example, if there are not enough seeds. coniferous plants- among these types:

• waxwings,
• crossbills,
• nuts,
• tits,
• tap dances and others.

Migratory birds

Migratory birds migrating for the winter include:

The reason for their migration is the lack of food, disappearance of caterpillars, larvae in winter and other insects that form the basis of the bird's diet. Of the forest birds, about half will fly away for wintering, but from the tundra or taiga, from the wetlands, almost all types of feathered inhabitants will go to places of warm wintering.

When choosing where to fly for the winter, most species will prefer familiar conditions. Forest inhabitants will choose forest regions for wintering, meadows - meadows or fields, steppe inhabitants will find a new place of residence in the steppes. Here they will find the usual food and environment, similar to those in their homeland.

When choosing where to fly, the birds will focus both on the final destination - the place of the future wintering, and on the opportunity to feed themselves in the process of a long journey. Therefore, the route of migratory birds does not run in a straight line to the wintering place, but contains various bends, turns and stops where they rest and feed. In the route of their flight, they will also follow the usual terrain - forests, fields, steppes. If the path runs through the desert - Karakum, Sahara, Libyan desert- migratory species tend to fly through these places as quickly as possible.

Birds are guided by an unmistakable instinct - sometimes the young, who do not know the way, fly away earlier than more experienced individuals. During the flight, birds exchange signals similar to an echo. Some species fly during the day, others prefer to travel at night and rest during the day. Usually females and males travel at the same time, with the exception of finches (their females fly away for the winter earlier) and storks (their males arrive in their permanent habitats before females).

It is those species of birds that feed on insects that are the first to leave their nests before spring. Swallows and swifts set off immediately upon the approach of autumn, in August, at the first night cooling. Swans, ducks and geese are the last to fly to wintering grounds: this happens when the temperature drops below zero, the rivers are covered with a crust of ice and forage becomes impossible.

Migration routes of migratory birds

Ducks go to the Balkans, swans fly to Greece and Great Britain. Starlings go to the Mediterranean coast. Wagtails fly to Africa or Asia, they also often choose India for wintering. Thrushes like to winter in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy. Cranes go further - to Egypt, to the Nile River. Dubrovnik bunting flies from the Moskva River and the Oka through Siberia to South China.

To establish where birds fly for the winter, ornithologists use the ringing method. Some waterfowl are known to winter in Russia. Snowy owl from the tundra flies to the Central Russian forest-steppe, seagulls will go to Sea of ​​Azov or to the south of the Caspian Sea. Many migratory birds choose Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan for wintering - large concentrations of finches, ducks, geese are observed here, during the wintering period, and reserves are specially created in these regions.

There is a unique case - polar terns fly to Antarctica for wintering, due to the presence of food, which is typical for cold Antarctic water.

Airspeed

The flight speed of birds during migration is relatively low. One of the slowest is the quail - it flies at a speed of approximately 40 km / h, among the fastest include the black swift (160 km / h). But, during the flight, birds can spend a lot of time on parking, and in general, their long-distance travels - for example, to Africa - can stretch for 2 - 4 months. The speed of spring migration during the return of migratory species is higher - in spring the birds return home faster than in winter they fly for the winter.

Good for settled birds. With the onset of cold weather, it is not necessary to overcome thousands of kilometers to the south, and return home in the spring. The annual flights of birds to hot countries are nothing more than an evolutionary adaptation to the survival of the species.

If you ask a person who is far from ornithology what birds fly south in autumn, those who cannot be overlooked will be listed: cranes, geese, or ducks. Many species of migratory birds live in European countries, and we simply do not notice the departure of many of them.

Typical migrants

It is important to understand that the range of many bird species is extremely extensive. Take a gray heron. The populations of the European part are migratory, migrating over long distances, while the inhabitants of South Asia and Africa are sedentary.

Many are mistaken, considering the main reason for the migration of birds of cold. Of course, parrots or hummingbirds in temperate latitudes will not survive, such is their biology, but flycatchers, thrushes or warblers could winter in their homeland, there would be something to eat.

Therefore, typical migratory birds include representatives of species that are unable to get their usual food or change to a vegetarian diet with the onset of winter. These are insectivorous and aquatic birds, as well as some raptors.

common kestrel

A bird of prey from the falcon family whose diet consists of voles, water rats, lizards, large insects and small species songbirds.

Populations of the Scandinavian countries winter in Southern Europe and North Africa. Birds living in Asia are sedentary or nomadic.

Falcon kestrel.

reed warbler

A small bird from the reed family that feeds exclusively on insects and their larvae, spiders and small mollusks.

A fully migratory species found throughout Europe with winter quarters located in Africa.

city ​​swallow

A typical representative of the swallow family, also known as the funnel. It feeds on small flying insects: flies, mosquitoes, midges, which it catches on the fly.

Distributed throughout Europe, winters in Africa and tropical Asia.

Swallow in flight, rear view.

A bird of the flycatcher family and the nightingale family. Breeds in Eurasia, winters in South Asia and North Africa.

It feeds on insect larvae, slugs and worms, which it hunts on the ground.

Male bluethroat.

The female bluethroat airs the feathers.

A species of the shepherd family, in the literature it is found under the name dergach. Distributed in the temperate zone of Europe and Asia, flies to Southeast Africa for the winter. Most of the general population nests in Russia.

The diet of the corncrake consists of mollusks, spiders, large insects, small rodents and frogs. During the winter it feeds on cockroaches, sacred scarabs and termites.

Rare photo: corncrake in flight.

Meadow coinage

A small bird of the flycatcher family, completely migratory. Common in Europe, widespread species wintering in Africa.

It eats insects, spiders, slugs, and snails; it hunts worms in plowed fields. At the end of summer it feeds on berries.

common cuckoo

A nominative species of the cuckoo family, a typical long-distance migrant. Breeds over a wide range from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. In autumn it flies to Africa and tropical Asia.

It feeds on insects and their larvae, butterfly caterpillars, worms, ant eggs and small lizards.

Cuckoo in flight.

Cuckoo with prey.

Representative of the gull family, forming 4 subspecies with an extremely wide range. Breeds in Northern and South America, Africa and Eurasia. For the winter, populations of temperate latitudes go to Africa and Southeast Asia.

Bird diets are based on small fish species, aquatic insects and mollusks.

Common tern in flight.

Common tern with prey in its beak.

Features of the migration of migratory birds

Small insectivorous birds are the first to fly to wintering grounds, departure begins at the end of August, in warmer areas of the range it lasts until the end of September. The last to be removed from their homes are waterfowl and near-water birds, which can find food even after the first frost.

Large birds fly at speeds of up to 80 km/h, small ones about 30 km/h. Among the high-speed migrants, it is worth mentioning the black swift, which is not for nothing called rabid. When flying, the bird accelerates to 160 km / h and crosses the entire African continent.

Why don't birds live happily in the tropics, and what makes them fly to their native lands? First, it is genetic memory. Most migratory birds come from the south, so during their annual migrations they follow the paths of their species.

Secondly, food competition with local birds and the lack of places to build a nest. Thirdly, the difficulties of adapting to a tropical climate, where the rainy seasons are replaced by droughts.

And so they fly every year for thousands of kilometers, day and night, in flocks and one by one. The weak perish along the way, someone becomes the prey of predators and hunters. But the sacrifices are justified by the ultimate goal - the survival of the fittest and the preservation of the species.

Wintering birds are called birds that remain in their native land all 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 so 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 rural areas. 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 decide the same logical tasks. 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.