To survive in conditions of constant cold, animals and birds were warmed, significantly reduced in size, and also significantly changed their lifestyle. In this article we will briefly talk about all of these devices. In addition, here you will find a list of the most famous birds of the north with their photos and names.
What is north? Geographical interpretation of the term
The North, as we all know, is one of the four cardinal points. But in geographical and climatic terms, it is also a region, part of the Earth’s territory, located north of the Arctic Circle. The climate here is extremely harsh: summers are short and winters are long and frosty. Within the region there are four natural zones: taiga, forest-tundra, tundra and the Arctic desert. Vegetation and fauna noticeably poorer with the advance to the north.
In Russia, the term “Far North” is also used. Its borders are arbitrary and very blurred. On the map below, territories belonging to the Far North are marked in dark blue. Within its borders, such large cities as Severodvinsk, Kostomuksha, Vorkuta, Norilsk, Dudinka are located.
Animals and Birds of the North: Adapting to the Cold
How do northern dwellers adapt to extremely low temperatures? Differently. There are several basic “tools” for adapting animals to cold, these are:
- thermoregulation;
- fur protection;
- fat layer;
- hibernation.
A seasonal decrease in air temperature is accompanied by an increase in the content of ascorbic acid in the tissues of the inhabitants of the circumpolar regions, and glycogen in the liver. By winter, mammals actively accumulate nutrients in their fatty tissues, especially near vital organs. Pay attention to the squirrel: in the cold season, it is noticeably rounded and tries on a thicker coat.
If we talk about the birds of the north, then they also have their secrets of survival in a cold climate. First of all, they have a thicker and denser plumage. Birds carefully choose places to equip their homes, warming their nests with down and dry leaves. In winter, many birds often gather in groups to keep warm. In zoology, this is called crowding.
Crows, rooks and some other birds on especially frosty days prefer to move as little as possible so as not to waste precious calories. But as soon as the thaw period begins, they behave as actively as possible in search of food. Avoiding and minimizing adverse temperature effects is a method characteristic of almost all living organisms.
Northern avifauna: typical representatives
Northern avifauna, despite the seemingly so unfavorable climatic conditions, is quite rich and diverse. Typical birds of the north include:
- loons;
- scrapers;
- Luriks
- dead ends;
- waders;
- white geese;
- petrels;
- burgomaster
- polar gulls;
- polar owls;
- partridges.
This list can be continued for a long time, because it is counted by more than one hundred species.
It is worth noting that some northern birds are migratory. That is, for the winter they fly south in search of warmer places. These include waders, ducks, gogol, snipe, loons, starlings, vyahiri and others.
Talking about the avifauna of the northern regions of the planet, one cannot fail to mention the so-called bird markets. They are especially common in the Arctic, in those areas that are affected by the warm ocean currents from the Atlantic. The sea water here as a result of the collision of warm and cold water masses is oversaturated with organic life, which attracts thousands of birds. In Russia, some bird markets are under protection as a kind of ornithological natural monuments.
Birds of the Far North of Russia
All feathered representatives of the Far North of Russia can be divided into three groups:
- Settlers (these include crows, rooks, jackdaws, sparrows, magpies, and others).
- Migratory (gumens, geese, gogol, teal-whistles and others).
- Nomadic (bullfinches, waxwings).
One of the most common birds in the north of the country is tits and sparrows. In the cold season, they switch to low-calorie fodder of plant origin, so they can often be seen on viburnum bushes or mountain ash trees. In winter, these tiny little birds, as a rule, gather in small flocks, since a group search for food significantly reduces their energy consumption.
Among the birds of prey in the north of Russia it is worth highlighting golden eagles and eagle owls. The first is characterized by an impressive wingspan (up to two meters), the second - by its excellent hearing and powerful legs. The golden eagle prefers to hunt during the day, and the eagle owl - at night.