A huge variety of different birds live on planet Earth. In total, birds are represented by 10 thousand different species, each of which has several subspecies. Birds live in various parts of the globe, even in Antarctica and the Arctic. Small and large, domestic and wild, flying and flightless, monochromatic and variegated, with a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes of beaks...
This article will introduce readers in more detail to some birds with red beaks (their names and photos are presented below in the article).
White stork: description
Storks belong to the order Cioridae (family Storkidae). This also includes ibises and herons. The most famous representatives of the family are white storks. They not only have beautiful long legs and necks, but also a long red beak.
The stork is a beautiful, elegant bird, although its body is quite large. Its weight can reach four kilograms, and its body length can be 120 centimeters. The total wingspan is 205 centimeters.
The stork is a bird with a long red conical beak, with the help of which it quite easily pulls out food from a body of water (swamp): fish, frogs, etc. It also feeds on lizards, snakes, earthworms, snails, mice, moles and insects.
Why do storks have red beaks? It remains a mystery.
Adult storks have practically no voice, due to the reduction of their vocal cords. Most often, they make a simple clicking sound with their beak, which means greeting.
Female storks are smaller in size than males, and both have exactly the same plumage - covered mostly with white feathers, only the wings are black. Their lifespan is quite long, with an average lifespan of approximately 20 years.
Types of robins
Among robins, there are several interesting subspecies, which we would like to talk about separately. Moreover, some of them are not at all similar to their relatives!
Black-throated robin
This is a kind of robin in reverse - with a red back and a black breast. They live in some regions of Asia, and especially on the Japanese island of Ryukyu, where they are considered local nightingales.
Photo: flickr.com
Japanese Robin
He lives not only in Japan, but also in China and Sakhalin. Their colors are generally similar, but with the addition of blue and black spots in the plumage of the males. But females are usually brown.
Photo: tulaoer.org
Javan robin
This is the star of the island of Java, although it lives far from only there. Being a resident of hot regions, she is very bright and leads a sedentary lifestyle.
Photo: afpbb.com
White-tailed Robin
This is a mountain species, which, despite its tiny size, has a body shape that is more like a dove. The plumage is distinctly blue. Mountain robins are common in Siberia and the Caucasus.
Photo: laptrinhx.com
Blue robin
Another highland variety, but in unusual blue-blue shades. It is common in Africa, Asia and Indonesia, so it is extremely unlikely to find it in Russia.
Photo: funpeep.com
Waxwing (60 photos): description of the bird, where it lives and what it eats
Distribution and habitats of storks
The main distribution area of these beautiful birds with a red beak is all of Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Asia and North Africa. They winter mainly in Africa, in India, and storks mostly fly to Asia from Central Europe. During their spring migration, they fly about 200 kilometers per day. The main migration routes are through the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, the Bosphorus and the Isthmus of Suez. During this period, in these places in autumn and spring, at high altitudes in the sky, you can observe an amazing, impressive picture - a huge number of white storks.
The main places of settlement are various outbuildings, roofs of residential buildings, and, a little less often, trees and rocks.
It is important to note that the number of white storks is decreasing every year due to a reduction in their food supply associated with the intensification and chemicalization of agricultural products.
Feeding and habits of storks
The main type of food for white storks is a variety of invertebrates and small vertebrates that live both on land and in water. Their favorite food is reptiles, amphibians, insects and fish. This amazingly beautiful white bird with a red beak has, oddly enough, a predatory character, which is due to the fact that it eats even small hares. Unfortunately, it also happens that storks eat inedible objects, which are naturally mistaken for food. And this leads to the death of birds due to subsequent blockage of their digestive tract.
The peculiarity of these birds is that many of them use the same nests for more than a hundred years, passed on to their descendants from generation to generation. These are quite brave birds; they boldly protect nests and chicks from other birds of prey and animals.
Nests, which usually contain 4-5 eggs per clutch, can reach relatively large sizes. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male alternately; after about a month, chicks emerge from them, which after 70 days become completely independent.
Robin breeding
Robins nest closer to the ground and hide in crevices of stumps and roots. They love abandoned holes and other secluded places, which they strengthen with moss, branches and leaves. Robins always carefully protect their nest from rain.
Nests are usually built by females while males defend the territory from competitors. Then the males take care of the small chicks at night, while the females hatch the second clutch. In general, robins have a very developed parental instinct.
One clutch contains 5-7 blue eggs, from which chicks appear within 2 weeks. At first they are very voracious, but then they grow quickly and after 2 weeks they try to leave the nest. The first year of life is the most difficult for robins, because they are not at all shy and are not very careful, which is why many chicks die.
Photo: smallivingworld.ru
Legends about the stork
The name of the bird with a red beak and white plumage appears in many beautiful ancient legends and tales. Since time immemorial, the white stork has been considered a rather revered bird, and it has been associated with prosperity, well-being, good luck and a happy life. There are also many good tales and legends associated with him, both in the East and in Europe, and everywhere he acts as a protector from any evil spirit and as the keeper of the family hearth, bringing happiness.
It was believed that a family whose house a stork flies to will definitely have a long-awaited child, and therefore many families without children relied on the help of this bird.
According to folk legends, God endowed this bird with white plumage, and the devil with black wings, which is why it symbolizes the endless struggle between good and bad, between good and evil.
Natural enemies
Humans pose minimal threat to robins. They even managed to adapt to deforestation and reduction of nesting sites. But owls, falcons, weasels, martens and stoats willingly attack small, gullible birds and often destroy nests located too close to the ground.
Photo: pxhere.com
Finch (50 photos): description of the bird, habitat and what it eats
Oystercatcher: description
This bird belongs to the order Charadriiformes (wader family). This also includes fifi.
A very bright and noticeable bird is the oystercatcher (this is exactly what the name of a black bird with a red beak sounds like). In addition to a bright scarlet beak, it is endowed with a white chest, red legs, back and black wings. It is similar in color to another well-known bird - the magpie, which is why it received such a double name.
The bird has predominantly black and white plumage. The neck, head and tail are also black, the underbelly, chest and part of the side are white.
The amazing bright red beak is 3 times longer than the head. His small eyes are also bordered with a red eyelid. Pale pink paws resemble the paws of birds of the Galliformes order. The body has a length of 35-48 centimeters, but the wingspan is on average only 85 centimeters.
Sometimes it is surprising how a bird with a small neck and head carries such an amazingly long beak. On average, these birds weigh from 350-720 grams, which depends on the time of year.
Description and features
Cardinals get their name from the bright red plumage of the males and the mask formed by the black color of the feathers around the beak and eye area. The small northern cardinal , found in Canada, the United States and Mexico, is otherwise called the red or Virginia cardinal. One of the features is considered to be the wonderful voice of a small active bird, for which it was nicknamed the Virginia nightingale.
The red cardinal cannot boast of large size. The female individual is slightly smaller than the male, whose weight rarely reaches 50 g. The maximum body length of an adult bird, including the tail, is 25 cm, and its wingspan does not exceed 30 cm.
The cardinal bird in the photo is not as expressive as in its natural environment. The ability of her feather to reflect light makes the color so rich and bright. The appearance of individuals of different sexes differs significantly. Males, called by nature to attract feathered girls with their bright appearance and singing, are unusually elegant.
Their crest, cheek area, chest, and belly are painted scarlet, and the wings and outer plumage of the tail are a darker crimson color with a slight brown haze. A black mask on a scarlet background adds masculinity. The bird's beak is red and its paws are red-brown.
Females look much more modest: gray-brown color, reddish inclusions on the feathers of the crest, wings, tail and a scarlet cone-shaped beak. The lady also has a mask, but it is not so clearly expressed: the feathers around her beak and eyes are dark gray. The young are similar in color to the female. The pupils of all cardinals are brown.
In the north of the continent lives the indigo bunting cardinal, whose plumage is a rich blue color. By the beginning of the mating season, the brightness of the color of the males increases, and when the pair has already been formed, it turns pale again.
Oystercatcher habitats
These birds with large red beaks are both migratory and non-migratory. They settle on the coasts of lakes and rivers. In winter, they prefer not very cold places: the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. They choose places for nesting that provide good food for their young. To a greater extent, these are pebble and sandy shores, and sometimes they settle in rocks.
Oystercatchers arrive in Russia in early May. For the winter they fly towards the northern part of Western Europe: to France, Denmark, Germany and Holland.
Features of sandpiper behavior
This numerous red-beaked bird can be identified by its sharp call. Its long beak with sharp edges allows it to easily pull sandworms out of a hole or easily open the valves of mussels.
It should be noted that the behavior of waders varies greatly during low and high tides. In the first case, they are quite active, rummaging through algae and sand in search of food. During high tide, birds wait out the time by standing motionless on rocks protruding from the water.
Such a seemingly large and inconvenient beak plays an important role in searching for food both from water and from sand over long distances and in depressions.
Place number 8. Wren
The bird is similar to a spotted partridge, but much smaller in size - only up to 10.5 cm in length. Its weight reaches 8-12 g. The wren lives in many regions of North America and Africa, and is found in the countries of South America. This bird of prey prefers to feed on invertebrates, but in the fall it switches to seeds, berries, and a special delicacy for the wren is seaweed and small fish.
Sandpiper feeding and nesting
From the characteristics of the bird’s habitat, one can draw conclusions about what the black bird with a long red beak eats. Due to the fact that the oystercatcher settles near the water, its food is mainly obtained from the water.
Their diet is based on small fish, mussels, amphipods and insects, the latter mainly large ones, such as butterflies, dragonflies, beetles, and sometimes butterfly larvae. They can also feed on worms, crustaceans and caddis flies. It happens that the eggs of other smaller birds may also end up in the shorebird’s diet.
Black birds with a red beak make nests on mainland and island shores. To do this, the female tramples a hole in a swampy place, throws shells and pieces of bark onto its bottom, then lays 2-4 eggs on top.
Pairs are created by sandpiper individuals at 3 years of age or more. The bird is considered monogamous and prefers to settle in solitude.
The female and male take turns incubating the eggs for up to 4 weeks, after which the chicks hatch and remain in the nest for only a day until they dry completely. After which they, scattering in different directions, hide among the stones.
In the very first days of their lives, they move closer to the water, where they wander with their parents in search of food at low tide. Often chicks warm themselves under their mother’s wings. They do not stray far from their parents for a month until they learn to fly on their own.
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This conclusion was reached by zoologists who studied mating behavior in more than 150 individuals. The experiment was as follows. First, scientists used a series of behavioral tests to evaluate the character of the experimental birds. The subject of special attention was the presence of an “exploratory streak,” that is, how inclined finches were to explore new territories and what their reaction was to unfamiliar objects, whether they aroused indifference, fear or interest in the birds. After this, the females were given the opportunity to observe two potential suitors who were engaged in “research”, namely, in front of the “girls” they were studying an unfamiliar cage. At the same time, the males were placed in unequal conditions: one received a room for study, partly hidden from the female’s view, that is, she could not fully assess the male’s behavior. Then the female, who had seen enough of it, and both researchers were collected in one cage.
Females, distinguished by courage and curiosity, chose males prone to exploratory behavior as mating partners. But, what is noteworthy, the choice did not depend on the size of the body and the shape and color of the beak, that is, characteristics that usually serve as criteria for sexual selection in finches (and in birds in general). Less active females did not show such choosiness in choosing a male.
Of course, any of you will say that in “this matter” appearance does not decide anything, the main thing is that “the person is good.” In other words, a life partner should be chosen not by the color of lipstick or the aroma of perfume, but by character, by personal qualities. But this is the first evidence of such behavior in the animal kingdom; Until now, it was believed that the color and size of, say, a peacock's tail are more important than the high moral qualities of its owner.
However, before this there was already evidence that the same finches have a better chance of raising offspring if both parents are the same in character and have an exploratory streak (obviously, such individuals are better at looking for food for the chicks). But the significance of such “personal criteria” in relation to the choice of a marriage partner has not yet been noted by anyone. Most likely, scientists believe, similar behavior can be found in other animals, especially those prone to monogamy.
The zebra finch is one of the most common caged birds. This small, agile bird with a bright red beak is native to Australia. Under natural conditions, zebra finches lead a gregarious lifestyle, flying to feed and drink in groups of 50-70 individuals.
When kept at home, they certainly attract attention. Constantly busy with something, calling to each other and bullying even their larger neighbors, these finches greatly enliven an aviary with small birds.
The color of wild zebra finches is gray, the male has a black and white “vest” on his chest, yellow-orange cheeks, and a coral-red beak. Females are much more modestly colored: the top of the body is gray, the bottom is dirty white, the beak is carrot-colored.
Over a long period of cage keeping of this species, amateur breeders have developed many color variations of the zebra finch.
White . The birds are pure white, with dark eyes, red beak and legs. The male has a coral-red beak, while the female has an orange or carrot-colored beak.
Marmazet . Almost white birds with a slightly creamy tint. The eyes have dark stripes, and transverse, highly lightened stripes are visible on the tail. The male has orange spots on his cheeks, brown sides with white spots, a “vest” on his chest, but the black color is lightened to dark gray, and the beak is red. The female has no orange spots on her cheeks, no vest and no colored feathers on her sides. The beak is orange-red.
Fawn . The coloring is the same as that of the wild form, but the gray color is replaced by fawn of varying degrees of intensity. Sexual dimorphism is expressed as in the wild form, but in the male the black color on the chest and tail is replaced by dark brown.
"Penguin" . Birds with strictly demarcated colors on the top and bottom of the body. The color is dark above, white below, and the beak is red. Motley. Asymmetrically located white spots on a dark background or, conversely, a red beak.
Silver . Birds are light gray, silver in color. Significantly lighter than the wild form. The remaining differences between birds by sex are the same as in the wild form, i.e. the male has a redder beak, a “vest” on the chest, silvery spots on the cheeks and spotted sides. The female has none of this and has a lighter beak. Females and males have a light yellow rump; there are no transverse stripes on the tail.
Black-breasted . Similar in color to the wild form, the spots on the cheeks are much larger, the black stripe on the upper part of the breast is not 3 - 4 mm wide, but approximately twice as wide. Differences in the color of birds by sex remain. The colors of this form are gray, fawn and marmazet.
Crested . Includes all of the above color variations; there is a rosette-shaped crest on the head. A poorly developed crest resembles horns on one or both sides of the head. Sexual dimorphism in color, as in previous forms.
Feeding zebra finches in a cage is not difficult. It is similar to feeding Japanese finches, only it is necessary to give animal food a little more often and provide the opportunity to swim, which these birds especially love. They should be regularly given two or three mealworms or a handful of bloodworms, increasing the amount while feeding the chicks.
In their homeland, they nest in small colonies - 10 - 20 pairs, so if you have a sufficiently spacious room for breeding at home, a couple of birds do not need to be placed in a separate cage.
The cage size for a pair of zebra finches is recommended to be at least 60x30x40 cm. If the size of the enclosure allows, several nesting houses are hung in it (the shape and size of the houses are the same as when breeding Japanese finches).
The house is attached to the outside of the cage (there is usually a door on one of the side walls of the cage for this purpose). A bunch of dry hay or bast sponge is placed inside the cage or enclosure. Birds use this material to build a spherical nest in the house. During this period, it is a good idea to give them several soft feathers, preferably light in color, with which the birds line the nesting chamber. You can use pre-disinfected chicken or pigeon feathers.
3-7 days after completion of the nest, the female lays her first egg. Usually there are four to six eggs in a clutch, but young females nesting for the first time can lay two or three eggs.
The female lays an egg per day and begins incubation by laying the second or third egg. During this period, it is necessary to provide the birds with maximum peace: do not make noise near the cage, do not make sudden movements, and especially do not look into the house.
Zebra finches, unlike Japanese finches, are very sensitive and, if disturbed during nesting, can stop incubating the clutch or even stop feeding the chicks. If this happens, the eggs or chicks not yet covered with feathers can be transferred to Japanese finches that are in the same stage of reproduction.
The chicks hatch on the 14-15th day of incubation. They are covered with long fluff, the color of which determines the future color of the bird. Light-colored chicks (white and marmazet) are covered with light fluff, while dark-colored chicks are covered with gray down. At the corners of their beak, phosphorescent bluish thickenings are visible - ridges that help parents find them in the semi-darkness of the nest. The chick's open mouth looks like an exotic flower: there are several black dots on the yellow background of the mouth cavity.
Chicks grow very quickly, and at this time it is necessary to increase the amount of soft food.
On the 22-25th day, the chicks leave the nest, but the parents feed them for a few more days, after which they begin to prepare for the next clutch. If this happens in a cage, then the chicks should be separated from their parents, since the entire territory of the cage “belongs” to the nesting pair, and the already independent chicks of the first brood become unwanted competitors. Otherwise, their parents may pluck them or chase them to death.
In spacious enclosures, this, as a rule, does not happen - adult birds only drive the chicks away from their nest.
At the age of up to one and a half months, young birds have a black beak and the same dull coloration as the females of this species. From one and a half months, the beak begins to turn red from base to tip, and by two and a half months it is almost entirely orange-red, only at the very tip there remains a black area. Young males are already actively singing, colored feathers appear on their sides and cheeks, and a “vest” appears on their chest.
Zebra finches, due to the ease of their breeding and unpretentiousness, are loved not only by avid poultry farmers, but also by beginners in this business. This species of weaver (Taeniopygia guttata) is native to the plains of Australia. During dry periods, zebra finches lead a gregarious lifestyle, making long flights in search of food and water. And during rains and sufficient moisture, they build nests and actively reproduce, sometimes even from 1.5 months of age.
Zebra finches got their name because of their coloring: the neck and chest of males have characteristic black and gray transverse stripes. In the classic (natural) version, the males of these birds have ash-colored plumage on the head, neck and upper back. On the black feathers of their tails they have large and white spots, and on their red sides there are small, scattered spots. The cheeks have a dark orange round “blush”. In general, the body coloration is in shades of brown and brown; there is a dark mark on the chest. The paws are carrot-colored, and the beak is painted deep red.
of this species of finches are distinguished by more modest plumage colors and the absence of zebra stripes. They are dusty gray, with dark stripes on the tail and around the eyes. The females have carrot-colored paws and a red beak. They do not have an orange “blush”. Up to 2 - 3 months, male chicks are colored almost like females, and all young individuals have a dark beak color. After changing their “outfit,” male and female zebra finches are easy to distinguish. Adults grow up to 11 cm.
Puberty in these birds occurs very early. Zebra finches form permanent pairs and build a nest of an oblong, bottle-like shape. They build it for about a week - from thin hay and blades of grass, covering the inside with feathers. In captivity, birds are offered a nesting house (approximately 12x12x20 cm) with a slot opening and dry grassy material for its arrangement. A clutch of zebra finches can contain 4 - 7 eggs, incubated by both partners for 1.5 - 2 weeks. At the age of about 20 days, small finches leave the nest, but their parents can feed them for some time.
Breeders have bred many zebra finches that have a color atypical for the wild. There are white, silver, brown, masked, penguin, piebald and even hybrids with other species. However, it is natural zebra finches that have the brightest, most contrasting plumage and good reproductive qualities.
When breeding at home, it should be taken into account that these birds are quite conflicting. They do not tolerate neighbors in a small area and prefer to live in a separate cage, in pairs. This is especially evident during the breeding season. Zebra finches feed on a grain mixture, in addition to which they are also given soft and juicy food, mineral supplements and cereals.
For breeding birds, I chose a male zebra finch of natural coloring, in whose family there were only birds of natural coloring.
The female also acquired a natural color, but her pedigree had individuals of natural, white and fawn colors. The calculation was simple: the most beautiful males are of natural color, and I wanted that, with possible direct inheritance, they would be born only in this color. Females with natural colors are less decorative (plain gray), so white and fawn pairs look more preferable. I consider the most suitable cage for keeping a pair to be the one with the optimal dimensions: 350x210x260 mm, in which canaries are usually kept, photo. 1 Photo 1
Click on the photo to enlarge I equip the cage with three sticks-perches made from dry branches of an American maple.
Such perches are light, less hard (compared to other types of wood), which prevents injury to the birds’ feet, and they can also be easily processed with a knife. The diameter of the perches is chosen so that the bird does not completely cover them with its toes. Zebra finches love to swim and splash like ducks, so it is better to equip their home with a standard removable bathing suit that is attached to the outside of the cage. However, those swimsuits that are sold in pet stores have to be modified with homemade pins for attaching to the home, Fig. 1 Fig. 1.
1-pins (4 pcs.) - pieces of tinned copper wire Zh1 mm., are fused into a plastic case using the tip of a heated soldering iron. Click on the picture to enlarge I also use a standard small drinking bowl due to the small size of the birds.
My bird breeder friends have had cases where birds, dipping their heads into a deep jar of water to drink, fell into it and died. The standard drinking bowl fits well into the cage grille from the outside, making it easy to change the water. I make the nest house from planks 10 mm thick, dimensions 150x100x100mm. I make the top lid openable so you can see what’s going on in the nest. By placing a thin stick between the vertical walls and the lid and moving it, you can adjust the air gap as the chicks grow older. The gap, of course, should not exceed 12 mm, otherwise the birds may fly out of the cage through it. The gap is fixed using two screws and wire, Fig. 2. Fig.2. Little house. 1-pins for fastening to the cage (tinned copper wire Zh2 mm.); 2-stick for adjusting the air gap; 3-screws; 4-arrival hole (3.5x5 cm) Click on the picture to enlarge I fill the bottom of the cage with washed water and dried sand.
I also use a knife to shave small particles of activated carbon and chalk onto the bottom; for this I have pieces of chalk and charcoal. Activated charcoal can be bought at the pharmacy, but it is also quite easy to make it yourself. I make a fire on the ground from chopped dry birch firewood. As soon as smoldering coals form, I cover the heat with a tin bucket to prevent further access of air to the coal. I sprinkle the edges of the bucket with sand. The bucket should not have a zinc coating, in order to avoid zinc salts getting into the coal; uncoated or tinned with tin is suitable. When the coals have cooled, I clean the pieces from the top layer of dust (ash) and place them in a polyethylene bag. One small burnt log lasts for several years. It is not advisable to use coniferous wood due to the resin content. It is advisable to have sand of different fractions according to the grain size of 0.2-1 mm. A family of birds released into an equipped cage immediately begins an examination: at the bottom they select particles of sand, coal, and chalk to improve the digestion of food, examine the house and immediately begin to swim.
After a few days, the birds show increased interest in each other and mate. Leek grass, picked in early June and cut with scissors into pieces 15-20 mm long, is well suited as a material for a nest.
Young dried grass is soft and does not have sharp fibers that can cause trouble for birds. I place such nesting material in the house a few days later, when the birds have already mastered the home; otherwise the rustling of grass in an undeveloped house may frighten them, and they will ignore the nest. To repel parasites, I mix pieces of grass with dried chamomile flowers. At the bottom of the cage I put dried dandelion leaves and tradescantia, which the finches immediately transfer to the nest. I consider adding bird fluff to build a nest inappropriate: firstly, the house is already warm; secondly, when the chicks hatch, the down becomes clogged with droppings; thirdly, the stray fluff of the nest attracts ticks, which are brought into the apartment with soil for indoor flowers, on the soles of shoes, fruits, vegetables, herbs... The appearance of parasitic insects is a scourge for birds. The parasites eat feather grease and fluff to such an extent that the bird can almost completely lose its downy covering, especially in the head part of the body, where finches do not have the opportunity to pick them out with their beaks. Usually, bald areas take a very long time to heal due to the fact that the fluff stumps remain in the body for a long time and it will take time for them to fall out, in fact, until the next molt. In such cases, the fight against parasitic insects will be long and painstaking, with treatment repeated several times over a period from a week to several months. I think that “Puldis” zoo powder in plastic packaging is effective for removing insects.
It is enough to spray the powder through the cage bars onto the bird and the bottom of the cage. Repeat treatment according to instructions. By the behavior of the birds, their playfulness, and gestures of gratitude (a friendly raising of their tufts), one can judge that they liked the housing.
The location of the home plays a big role in the life of indoor birds, so you need to carefully study the literature: where finches living in the wild are described, how they are bred, and to bring these conditions as close as possible. Usually the cage is installed in a bright place, but always away from drafts. Literally all exotic birds tolerate low temperatures quite well, but they quickly die from drafts. For the cage, I installed a low table near the window, about 80 cm high; the lid size is 70x70 cm. I placed the cage in the middle of the table surrounded by house plants, photo 2. Among them: bactericidal geranium, the smell of which is unbearable for insects, tradescantia, chlorophytum, etc. Knowing that weaver birds usually nest in separate bushes, this composition reminds them of natural conditions, and the corner of nature in the room turns out to be beautiful. For closer mutual understanding, you need to communicate with the birds as often as possible: “talk to them,” study their “language” - understand what they ask.
So, for example, fast movement along the perches with frequent chirping means a request for food, change of water in the bathing bowl, drinking bowl; vibration of the female's tail, distinctive sounds - a signal to the male for mating, etc. Finches are very curious, study every movement of the owner, perfectly remember his face and appearance, and greet him with delight. No birds rejoice at the coming day as much as finches. A cheerful, simple song creates a good mood for the whole day. It is good to hang a night light with a low power bulb above the table, for example, from a refrigerator; it is necessary when preparing the birds for the night. Photo 2
Click on the picture to enlarge Feeding birds is of great importance.
Having studied some literature, we can determine: the main food for finches is millet (preferably red). Just as an additive to the main food, I use canary seed, various cereals, and a chicken egg (hard-boiled). I definitely try dry food to taste it, there should be a taste of mold, rancidity, bitterness that is not typical for grain. There are many ways to prepare porridge, but I offer my own recipe, which I have been successfully practicing for several years. In a small bowl (preferably an enamel small saucepan) put one tablespoon with the top of washed rice, pour in 3/4 cup of water, add two teaspoons of dry milk, stir and cook until the rice grain begins to soften, then add two tablespoons of millet , add a small amount of iodized table salt, half a teaspoon of natural bee honey. When the mixture thickens, add a teaspoon of oatmeal. I mix the mixture thoroughly. Cook the porridge without a lid, with continuous stirring. Then I close the dish with a lid and wrap it in 2-3 towels, leaving it to steam. Cooled, properly cooked porridge can be easily separated into grains with a spoon. It should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week. For feeding, the porridge should be slightly warmed, for example, on a saucer over a gas burner, so that the birds do not catch a cold. Honey can be replaced with sugar, but powdered milk cannot be replaced with whole milk, in my experience; it may cause indigestion. This carbohydrate-protein-vitamin mixture will successfully replace your expensive Trill food. Chicken eggs, in my opinion, should be given to birds, but with great caution. We know that eggs that can be found in our markets, unfortunately, can be of very dubious quality. Of course, if it is possible to give birds eggs from domestic chickens, this will only be beneficial. Suitable green food includes dandelion leaf, wood lice, grated carrots, young shoots of millet, and oats. But do not forget that the greens must be thoroughly rinsed with water and dried a little. The basic food norm I established for one pair of finches per day is:
- 3 teaspoons red millet;
- 2 teaspoons of porridge prepared according to the above recipe;
- 0.5 teaspoon canary seed (Trill).
When chicks appear, I always add pieces of homemade chicken eggs to the porridge to feed the young.
It’s good to sprinkle about a dozen bloodworms on the bottom of the cage during feeding, once a day. Usually finches do not pay attention to them, but during nesting they attack live worms and quickly eat them. Then the chicks are fed. As you can see, live food is desirable. In general, when feeding chicks, there should even be an excess of food, otherwise the parents, seeing that there is not enough food, can throw the chicks out of the nest, leaving one or two.
ZEBRA FINCH (Taeniopygia guttata), a bird of the weaver finch family. The male's top of the head, neck and front of the back are ash-gray. The front of the neck and chest have a fine cross-striped pattern. The “zebra” coloring is obtained through a combination of black and light stripes on the chest (hence the name). The upper tail coverts are black with white tips. The sides of the body are chestnut, with many white spots. The back and wings are gray-brown, the tail is dark brown. The beak is coral red, the legs are light orange. The female's plumage is less bright and lacks the zebra pattern on the throat and chest. The abdomen is slightly yellowish. In young individuals, the plumage has a brownish tint and the beak is black. The natural range of the zebra finch covers all of Australia, with the exception of the northernmost and southernmost regions of this continent. Lives on plains overgrown with grass, with single bushes and trees, likes to settle close to water. During the non-breeding period, it unites in flocks, making small migrations. It feeds on the seeds of grasses and other plants, collecting them on the ground. The bottle-shaped nest is built from plant fibers and hay, lining the inside with feathers. The clutch contains 3-6 eggs, white with a greenish tint. During drought, birds nest once a year or do not nest at all, but in a favorable year, nesting is repeated many times. After the chicks fly out of the nest, the parents continue to live in it. The couple lasts until the death of one of the partners. Zebra finches are characterized by rapid sexual maturation. In nature, their reproduction is noted at six weeks of age. This feature is due to the fact that in Australia dry periods occur chaotically, the drought can last for quite a long time, therefore, when a favorable period comes, the young from the first broods manage to breed offspring in the same season. They retain this ability in captivity, which made them suitable for mass breeding. The zebra finch is one of the most beloved indoor birds. It was brought to Europe from the Australian continent at the end of the 19th century and then domesticated. Over a relatively short period of domestication (about 100 years), many artificial breeds and colors have been developed, but the most beautiful and spectacular is the natural coloring of zebra finches. These small birds, much smaller than a canary, captivate with their pleasant decorative appearance and undemanding nature when it comes to food. The main food is millet, preferably light millet, since its skin is thinner. It is necessary to add lettuce and canary seed, chumiza, and mogar to it. In addition to the main food, you need to give a carrot mixture prepared in the same way as for insectivorous birds, chopped chicken eggs, fresh ant pupae, white bread in milk or water and greens.
Chlushitsa: description, distribution
What is the name of the bird with a red beak, belonging to the order Passeriformes (corvid family)? There is such a thing in nature.
The bird, which is slightly larger in size than the Alpine jackdaw (length 40 cm), is a black bird with a red beak (see photo below), called a chough.
It stands out among other birds with its slightly downward-curved red beak and red paws. The feathers of the chough shimmer in different colors. Young chicks have yellow legs and beaks, and matte black plumage.
These birds are distributed mainly in arid, forest-poor areas, on sea coasts, as well as in the highlands. Chough is rare in the Alps. Most of its habitat is in the mountains (3500 m above sea level) of China, South Asia and Western Europe.
The reason for the steady decline in the number of this bird, especially in northwestern Europe, over the past two centuries is the severe erosion of mountain slopes, which occurs due to the significant impact of agricultural work.
Features of nesting chough
Chough mostly nests in colonies, and they remain in one place for centuries. These birds usually place nests built from branches in caves or rock crevices, away from strong winds and whirlwinds.
The clutch of eggs is incubated only by the female for approximately 18 days. During the period of increased chick growth, parents feed their young every 60 minutes, bringing food in their submandibular pouch. The cubs fly out of the nest after about 38 days, when they are already quite confident in flying. Despite this, the family does not break up for a long time.
What does the chough eat?
These birds are very trusting. They often pick up food on the tops of mountains, where climbers throw it, and near mountain huts. Choughs usually do not fly away for the winter, but in the mountains their colonies become empty because the birds descend to the foothills and valleys. Choughs found in Spain, usually nesting in the walls of houses (both in ruins and in residential areas), are not as timid as in mountainous areas. And they often obtain food near human habitation.
Compared to other birds, whose food preferences and methods of obtaining food are quite diverse, the chough is mostly a consumer of small insects, primarily ants. This relatively small bird with a red beak also eats worms, seeds and berries.
Choughs usually feed in small flocks. In this important process, they are well assisted by their long, thin beaks, which extract small prey from grass or turf (remnants from rabbits and sheep).
A little about the black water cutter
The black skimmer has an unusual bill not only among all shorebirds, but also among birds throughout North America. Its uniqueness is not only that it is very thin and colorful (red and black strokes), but also that its lower part is longer than the upper.
This feature is very important for the process of feeding the cutwater. How does this happen? Birds fly over the water at high speeds, while the lower part of the beak cuts a channel along the surface of the water and descends into the water. When a fish is in it, the top of the beak snaps shut. Such an extreme method of obtaining food, of course, does not come without risks. Black skimmers sometimes have collisions with certain underwater objects.
In addition, these birds also use their beaks to kill seagulls that have the courage to invade their nesting sites.
The black, red-billed skimmers are the only bird species in South and North America with this feeding technique.
