Mountain turkey is not a bird familiar to everyone. She lives far from everywhere, so there are few of those who saw her firsthand. The Caucasian Ular, as the mountain turkey is called in a different way, is similar to both domestic chicken and a little partridge. This is the largest pheasant bird in the family.
Short description
What does a mountain turkey look like? The photo shown above shows that the main color in the plumage of these birds is gray. On it are lighter blotches. This camouflage helps ular hide from predators, as it makes it invisible against the background of rocks. Their average number ranges from 400-700 thousand individuals.
The largest weight this bird can reach is 2.5 kg. It has a downed body, short and plump legs, a small neck, a small wide beak, short pointed wings and a relatively long rounded tail. This body structure allows her to move quickly along steep slopes. Ular uses wings during walking to maintain balance.
Where do mountain turkeys live?
The mountain turkey, also known as the Caucasian ular, is concentrated in the alpine zone of the Main Caucasian Range. Moreover, here these birds can be found both at the level of 1800, and at an altitude of 4000 meters. The bird usually settles in gorges and rocky placers. Since July, the Ular has the habit of rising closer to the tops of the mountains, and in winter it falls to the lower zones. Ular can, although much less frequently, be found in Central, Central and Asia Minor, southern Siberia.
The mountain turkey bird prefers not to move alone, but in small groups. The peak activity of the mountain turkey is observed in the early hours of the day. At this time, on the slopes of the mountains you can hear their melodious singing. Seeing the danger, the Ulars run to the cliff to plan into the abyss. During the flight, the bird makes a whistle.
Power Features
Mountain turkey feeds exclusively on plant foods. On the slopes of the mountains, she collects leaves, seeds, flowers, buds and stems from about 70 plants growing in her habitat. The ular diet consists mainly of cereals, sedges, cloves and legumes.
To grind food, the ular have a habit of swallowing small stones. It happens that in their stomach there can simultaneously be a number of pebbles approaching 20 g. The Ulars have no need to plague themselves in search of water sources, since they get the necessary amount of them from eaten plants.
How is the reproduction
Until mid-March, birds usually keep in packs. However, when they have a mating season - each on its own. In males of the Caucasian ular, like most feathered representatives of the fauna, it is customary to attract a female by singing. It’s not out of place for the male to fight for the chosen one with the enemy. The marriage war greatly depletes the male ular, and he decently loses weight during love.
When the realization comes to the mountain turkey male that he finally got the female's location, he raises his tail and stretches his head. After fertilization, the male begins to actively gain weight, bringing it to the usual for himself.
After mating in March-April, nesting occurs in birds. The female can lay 5 to 8 eggs, then incubates them without the participation of the male. Hatched chicks reach the size of an adult in 3 months, and next spring they themselves can leave offspring.
Hunt for the Ular
Hunters of the Caucasus usually do not go specifically to the ular. If the turkey meets on the way, they will be happy to shoot it. But their main goal is usually large animals. It is also not so easy to hunt for ular, even for experienced hunters. These birds often prevent hunters from catching big game with their loud voice. Seeing the danger, they make piercing sounds that warn of the danger of all animals in the mountains. Olar meat was previously considered healing. Today it is a delicacy, the taste of which I would like to appreciate, probably, everyone.
Few people have ever seen a mountain turkey, or Caucasian ular, even among the inhabitants of the Caucasus. This bird is very careful and lives in inaccessible places. Many had to watch it only from afar. Close to a person to a bird does not admit. If you ever come across in the mountains a bird with a marble plumage, similar to a chicken, this may be the very mountain turkey.