Kulik (bird): description, habitat, food

One of the most common birds is a kulik. Only in Russia there are about 75 species. Outwardly, these birds are more like pigeons, but they have clearly distinctive features. Ornithologists consider them to be a group of Charadriiformes. We will consider the species of waders that occur most often.

Kulik-sparrow

This bird is the smallest representative of waders. Its mass does not exceed 27 grams. It has a straight short beak. It has long (up to 10 cm), but narrow wings, short fingers, legs of medium length. The plumage of the chest, barrels, craw, neck, neck and cheeks has a rust-ocherous hue. Also, feathers have brown pestriny. The bottom of the bird is white. The wings are black-brown. The secondary feathers on the wings have a light base and black endings. Kulik (photo shown below) changes color in winter. On the back appears a grayish-brown hue, the bottom remains light, and near the goiter there is a dirty-buffy plaque.

This small sandpiper is a tundra bird. It settles in areas ranging from Norwegian forests to the lower reaches of the Lena. It can be found on some islands of the Arctic Ocean. Sometimes the bird settles in the forest-tundra. Kulik is a migratory bird and travels for winter to Africa, South Asia and gets to Tasmania. Some representatives can be seen from the southern side of the Caspian Sea.

The tingling and offspring of the Sparrowbill

Returning to their native places, the birds are ready to be tapped. During this period, the sandpiper in flight flies up wings, pulls them. His trill may resemble the sounds that a grasshopper publishes. The place for the nest is usually chosen under the bush. The click-spar littered the pit with last year's grass and slightly hugs it. Lining of dwarf willows can serve as a lining .

Usually there are four eggs in the clutch of the Sparrowhawk, they are olive-brown. But often their color can be very different. Laying eggs, as a rule, is at the end of June, and in the middle or the end of next month there are down jackets. Already in early August, the chicks can be fully plumed, but they are not capable of flying. But before they can fly, the nestlings of kulik of different families will be able to unite in their flock. Its "participants" become airborne, and this newly formed group begins to roam the tundra, preparing to fly for the winter. This period usually falls on the middle of August and lasts until the last September days.

Behavior and nutrition of the Sparrowhawk

Like any other bird of the order of waders (sometimes there are exceptions), a representative of this species has a leisurely temper. Birds smoothly and calmly run and do not fuss. They feed also calmly and often silently. In rare cases, they can communicate quietly with each other during their meal. At the sight of the person they continue to behave calmly.

The basis of the diet is insects. Sometimes birds can get crustaceans and mollusks. Also these waders love bloodworms and larvae of aquatic insects.

Midget-waders

This feather has strong legs and a long straight beak. The basic color combinations are black and white, but some birds can have brown or brown shades in plumage. In this subfamily there are 4 representatives, which can be combined into one species. But most often there is a kulik-forty ordinary. The size of this bird is the same as that of a pigeon. He, as well as other representatives of this subfamily, has an elongated strong beak. In some individuals, it can hardly be raised. In addition, the beak is compressed laterally. In those waders that settle north, the beak is slightly shortened. Already grown-up "magpies" have a black neck, head, part of the back, part of the wings and the end of the tail. Other feathers are exceptionally white.

These birds under the eye have a small bright spot. Northern birds can be distinguished from the southern by more black pigment on the wings. But some wader magpie, depending on the geography of their habitat, can be completely dark. Waders of Russia weigh about 500 grams. Their wings along the length reach 26 cm.

Spread

"Magpies" are distributed near the basins of the rivers of Eastern Europe, but only near those that direct their waters to the south. They can also be found off the coast of the White and Barents seas. These birds like to settle near the basins of the rivers of Central Asia and Western Siberia. Residents of Kamchatka are also familiar with this bright bird. Their habitat is not limited to Russia. They live along the shores of the seas of Europe (North and West), America, Australia, Africa, New Zealand, Tasmania. In our localities, these birds are migratory and leave for Asia or Africa for the winter.

Nesting "Forty"

They return home at different times, depending on their geographical origins. "Natives" of the Moscow region arrive in April, and in the Kandalaksha Bay such birds nest closer to May. Returned from wintering birds are divided into groups, and the commencement begins. During this period, they fly with loud cries, pulling down the beak in tension. Their route lies in a straight line. Flew to a certain place, they return back. In such a flight can participate a dozen "marrying". This group of waders is gradually broken up into pairs, which are removed to their nesting sites. It can be noted that these games are conducted by birds over three years old, at this age they become mature. Near the Barents Sea, such a tallying occurs in June.

Arrange their nests magpie waders on the sea shores, where there are shoals with a wide strip of littoral, usually it is coves and bays. The coast can be sandy, rocky, pebbly, shellfish. If birds live inside the continent, they still choose the shores of lakes or rivers. In the central part, it was noted more than once how waders settle in fields where there is no pond nearby.

Couples have their own okologedzdovoy site, which they guard. But, despite this, they all can very closely neighbor with their congeners. Kulik is a bird, distinguished by a primitive structure of the nest. So, "magpies" make an unpretentious fossa in the open area and populate it. In the masonry there are usually 3 eggs, but sometimes 4 or 2. Their eggs are large in size, 5-6 cm long. They are light ocherous and have brown dashes and specks. Both parents are engaged in incubating, and they often succeed each other. Nasizhivanie lasts up to 28 days.

On the day of withdrawal, the down jackets are already coming out of the nest, but not far away, so that they can warm themselves about their parents. Birds need to take care of their brood. Sometimes they feed from afar and, therefore, may be late with feeding, and then the brood perishes from malnutrition. Nestlings are not able to feed themselves for a long time. So, parents should take care of three weeks of hungry offspring.

Scientists confirmed that the kulik (photo suggested above) is tied to the nesting site, and returning from the wintering area, occupies its former site.

Power of waders-forty

The diet of these birds is varied. They are capable of catching victims on land, shallow water and digging buried in the ground. So, in the menu of waders-forty there are crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, caterpillars, insects and larvae. If possible, they can catch a small fry. To crack the shell of crustaceans, they use a strong beak. Small shells of a bird can carry to the rocks and insert into cracks to facilitate the opening of the prey. If the victim is under a pebble, the bird overturns it or puts a beak under it. Residents of the Orenburg region say that after watering the gardens they usually fly waders and magpies massively exterminate the wireworms.

Description of blacksmith black magpie

These representatives of the detachment differ from ordinary waders, forty larger sizes. By mass, they can reach 700 g. Their plumage is dark in color. White and light shades are missing completely. In color there are a few brown tones, usually a back, bottom and part of the wings. The length of the beak is from 6.5 to 8.5 cm. Also a distinguishing feature is the ring around the eyes of red color. Strong legs have a faint pink color. Female differs from male by longer beak and dense body.

Kulik-magpie black is found only in North America (the west coast). In the south, these birds lead a settled life. Closer to winter here fly feathered northern regions. They settle mainly on rocky coastal areas and avoid places with turbulent vegetation.

Kulik-shovel

This species of waders is significantly different from the congeners, since it has a special beak structure. Its ending has an extension, similar to a spatula. This species is particularly mobile. So, during feeding, he very briskly describes the head with a semicircle and at this time quickly rushes into the water, running over the abdomen. It can turn sharply and rush in the opposite direction, leaving its "spatula" in the water. The length of the wings is on average 10 cm.

Spreading of the spade is limited. Its habitat is the Chukchi land, from Cape Vankarem to the Anadyr Gulf. For wintering this kulik goes to Southeast Asia. Sometimes during flights the bird adjoins other kinds of small waders. Although the shovel has an unusual beak structure, it does not look defiant and catchy, so at first glance it can be confused with a regular wader. This species is not numerous and does not aspire to spread on wide territories, therefore it is on the lists of the Red Book of Russia.

Kulik-Dotysh

This species of waders has a blackish-brown back with separate red feathers. Nadhvoste black. Chest and goiter brown color with light impregnations. Males weigh about 100 g, females - up to 72 g. The length of the wing is on average 13 cm. The bird prefers to settle in the tundra of Canada and Alaska. It can also nest in the Siberian tundra (northern part), from the Chukchi peninsula to the eastern Taimyr. Most recently, it was noted that the Dooties flew to Europe, so ornithologists do not give up hope that these kids will soon settle in its western parts.

Birds living in Siberia, in autumn, go to Alaska, where they turn south. They spend wintering in warm regions - South America, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile.

Returning to their home countries, the birds begin marriage games. Among all other similar feathery, it is the Dulcus-Kulik that attracts attention. The bird starts to climb to a small height and, blowing his neck, makes sounds like a thud. Also male can arrange a performance, running with a swollen neck near the female. In some ways he looks like a black grouse during the period of takings. After the pair has developed, the female incubates the masonry, and the male wanders to another place.

Curlew

These birds are brownish in color and have an elongated and curved downward beak. But the main thing that these representatives are noteworthy is that they are the largest of the wader genus. The male plays the mating games closer to his chosen one. On the ground, he lifts his wings, drives his beak down and up, dissolves and folds the tail back. The existing pairs remain true to each other.

The place for the nest is chosen by the male. He, pressed to the ground, makes a hole in the hole. Next to the first pit, he tears out a few more. The female chooses one she likes, and the waders lining her with grass. Here, the female lays one, but a large olive-colored egg with brown specks. After sitting a few days, she brings the next egg, and then can replenish the masonry with the third and fourth. In hatching, both he and she actively participate. Before the appearance of the first chick must pass from 26 to 28 days. Both children are followed by both parents. The chicks will be ready for flight at the age of just over a month. After this, several families with children are united in one flock and begin their migrations. For the winter they go to South Asia or Africa. Departure occurs early, around August, but some individuals can stay until September. Sometimes in Germany and England these waders decide to spend the winter on the spot.

In our country, there are five subspecies of curlews, and there are only eight of them.

Gershchnep

It's a very tiny little wad. Its weight is only 60 grams. But at the same time many hunters do not let the opportunity to catch him, because his meat is very tasty. But for ornithologists, the interest in representing these crumbs. To hear muffled sounds, issued by a snort, it is possible in calm and cloudy weather. It is impossible to catch where the singing comes from, because the kulik pokes high and very briskly moves. The sounds of birds playing in mating games resemble the trampling on the rammed earth: "top-top-top".

Waders waders

In our country this bird is very common, and, probably, many had to see it, going to nature. The marshbred, unlike many of its relatives, is of great interest to hunters, as its meat is very tender and delicious.

He may be known by another name - "spindle", "nettigel", and sometimes it is simply called a "cochlea". In size this bird looks like a dove, but since its beak, neck and legs are elongated, visually it seems bigger. Color of plumage yellowish-reddish. Female is larger in size, has bright feathers. Although the male's neck is much redder. From wintering to their marsh, the birds return to the middle of spring. From year to year they remain in their native place, but to change their habitation can force the drying out of the reservoir. In this case, they pick up another marsh, without exaggerating it. Both parents take care of the offspring. But sometimes excessive care kills the nest and brood. Wanting to scare away other birds and predators, the male thereby gives his location to the hunters. Unfortunately, the irrepressible desire of people to profit led to the destruction of entire generations of swamp waders.