One of the most common birds is sandpiper. Only in Russia there are approximately 75 species. In appearance, these birds are more like pigeons, but at the same time they have distinct distinctive features. Ornithologists rank them as Charadriiformes. We will consider the types of waders that are most common.
Sparrow Sandpiper
This feathered 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, goiter, neck, neck and cheeks has a reddish-buff color. Feathers also have brown streaks. The bottom of the bird is white. Fly wings are black-brown. The secondary feathers on the wings have a light base and black endings. Sandpiper (photo below) changes color in winter. A grayish-brown hue appears on the back, the bottom remains light, and a dirty ocher coating appears near the goiter.
This small sandpiper is a tundra bird. It settles in territories ranging from the Norwegian forests to the lower reaches of the Lena. It can be met on some islands of the Arctic Ocean. Sometimes a bird settles in the forest-tundra. Sandpiper is a migratory bird and travels to Africa, South Asia for wintering and travels all the way to Tasmania. Some representatives can be seen from the southern side of the Caspian Sea.
The mating and offspring of the sandpiper
Returning to their native places, the birds are ready for Tokov. During this period, a sandpiper in flight raises its wings, yanks them. His trill may resemble the sounds made by a grasshopper. The place for the nest is usually chosen under the bush. A click-sparrow covers the hole with last year's grass and crushes it a little. Lining can be dwarf willow leaves .
Usually in the laying of the sandpiper, there are four eggs, they are olive-brown. But often their color can vary greatly. Laying of eggs, as a rule, occurs at the end of June, and in the middle or end of the next month down jackets appear. Already in early August, the chicks can be completely with plumage, but at the same time they are not capable of flying. But before they can fly, sandpipers of different families have time to unite in their flock. Its “members” become flying, and this newly formed group begins to roam the tundra, preparing for a flight to the winter. This period usually falls in mid-August and lasts until the last September days.
The behavior and nutrition of the sandpiper
Like any other sandpiper bird (sometimes there are exceptions), a representative of this species has a leisurely disposition. Birds run smoothly and calmly and do not fuss. They also eat quietly and often in silence. In rare cases, they can quietly communicate with each other during their meal. At the sight of a person, they continue to behave calmly.
The basis of the diet is insects. Sometimes birds can catch crustaceans and mollusks. Also these waders love bloodworms and larvae of aquatic insects.
Magpie Waders
This feathered bird has strong legs and a long straight beak. The main color combinations are black and white, but some birds may have shades of brown or brown in plumage. There are 4 representatives in this subfamily, which can be combined into one species. But most often there is a common magpie. The size of this bird is the same as that of a pigeon. He, like other representatives of this subfamily, has an elongated strong beak. In some individuals, he was barely raised up. In addition, the beak is compressed laterally. In those waders that settle north, the beak is slightly shortened. Already adult formed “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 have a small light spot under their eyes. Northern birds can be distinguished from southern birds by a greater amount of black pigment on their wings. But some magpie waders, depending on the geography of their habitat, can be completely dark. Sandpipers of Russia weigh about 500 grams. Their wings reach a length of 26 cm.
Spread
“Magpies” are common around the river basins 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 love to settle near the river basins of Central Asia and Western Siberia. Kamchatka residents are also familiar with this vibrant bird. Their habitat is not limited to Russia. They live on the shores of the seas of Europe (North and West), America, Australia, Africa, New Zealand, Tasmania. In our localities, these birds are migratory and go to Asia or Africa for the winter.
Nesting Forty
They return home at different times, depending on their geographical beginnings. The "natives" of the Moscow Region arrive in April, and in the Kandalaksha Gulf such birds nest closer to May. The birds returned from wintering are divided into groups, and the toxing begins. During this period, they fly with loud screams, pulling their beak down in tension. Their route lies in a straight line. Reaching a certain place, they come back. A dozen “spouses” can take part in such a flight. This group of waders is gradually divided into pairs, which are removed to their sites for nesting. It can be noted that these games are played by birds older than three years, it is at this age that they become mature. Near the Barents Sea, this overflow occurs in June.
Magpie waders arrange their nests on the seashores, where there are shallows with a wide strip of littoral, usually bays and bays. The coast can be sandy, rocky, pebble, shell. If the birds live inside the mainland, they still choose the shores of lakes or rivers. In the central part, it was repeatedly noted how waders settle in fields where there is no pond nearby.
Couples have their own near-nesting site, which they guard. But, despite this, they can all very closely side by side with their relatives. Sandpiper - a bird, characterized by a primitive structure of the nest. So, the “magpies” make an unpretentious hole in the open area and populate it. Clutch usually has 3 eggs, but sometimes 4 or 2. Their eggs are large in size, 5-6 cm long. They are light ocher in color and have brown lines and specks. Both parents are busy with incubation, and they succeed quite often. Hatching lasts up to 28 days.
On the day of withdrawal, little puffs are already leaving the nest, but not far, so that there is an opportunity to bask on the parents. Birds need to take care of their brood. Sometimes they carry food from afar and therefore can be late with feeding, and then the brood dies from malnutrition. Chicks for a long time are not able to feed themselves. So, parents have three weeks to worry about hungry offspring.
Scientists have confirmed that the sandpiper (photo proposed above) is attached to the nesting site, and returning from wintering, takes up its former site.
Wader feed forty
The diet of these birds is diverse. They are able to catch their victims on land, shallow water and dig buried in the ground. So, in the menu of magpies, there are crustaceans, mollusks, polychaetes, caterpillars, insects and larvae. If possible, they can catch small fish. To split the crustacean shell, they use a strong beak. Small shells of birds can be carried into rocks and inserted into cracks to facilitate opening of prey. If the prey is under a pebble, the bird overturns it or puts its beak under it. Residents of the Orenburg region talk about the fact that after watering the gardens, wader-magpies usually fly in and massively exterminate the wireworms.
Description of the Magpie Blackbird
These representatives of the order 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 completely absent. There are some brown tones in the color, usually the back, bottom and part of the wings. The length of the beak is from 6.5 to 8.5 cm. Also a distinctive feature is the ring around the eyes of red. Strong legs have a soft pink color. The female differs from the male with a longer beak and a dense body.
Magpie black is found only in North America (west coast). On the south side, these birds lead a settled life. Closer to winter, birds of the northern regions fly here. They settle mainly on rocky coastal territories and avoid places with rugged vegetation.
Shovel
This species of waders differs significantly from relatives, since it has a special structure of the beak. Its ending has an extension similar to a spatula. This species is especially mobile. So, during feeding, he very briskly describes the head in a semicircle and at this time quickly hurries into the water, running along the abdomen. He can sharply turn around and rush off in the opposite direction, leaving his “spatula” in the water. The length of the wings is on average 10 cm.
The distribution of shovels is limited. Its habitat is Chukchi land, from Cape Vankarem to Anadyr Bay. For wintering, this sandpiper goes to Southeast Asia. Sometimes during flights a bird adjoins other species 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 an ordinary sandpiper. This species is not numerous and does not seek to spread over wide territories, therefore it is on the lists of the Red Book of Russia.
Sandpiper Sandpiper
This species of waders has a blackish-brown back with individual red feathers. The nuft is black. The chest and goiter are brown in color with light spots. Males weigh about 100 g, females - up to 72 g. Wing length - an average of 13 cm. The bird prefers to populate in the tundra of Canada and Alaska. It can also nest in the Siberian tundra (northern part), from the Chukchi Peninsula to East Taimyr. More recently, it was noted that dutysh flew to Europe, so ornithologists do not give up hope that these babies will soon settle in its western parts.
Birds living in Siberia go to Alaska in the fall, where they turn south. They spend the wintering in warm places - South America, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile.
Returning to their native countries, the birds begin mating games. Among all other similar feathered attention it is the sandpiper. The bird begins to rise to a small height and, having inflated its neck, makes sounds like blowing. Also, the male can arrange a performance by running with a swollen neck near the female. With some habits, he looks like a black grouse during the current period. After the pair has formed, the female incubates the clutch, and the male migrates to another place.
Curlew
These birds are brownish in color and have an elongated beak curved downward. But the main thing that is remarkable for these representatives is that they are the largest of the waders. The male spends mating games closer to his chosen one. On the ground, he raises his wings, leads his beak down and up, spreads his tail and folds it back. The existing pairs remain true to each other.
The place for the nest is chosen by the male. He, clinging to the ground, makes a hole with his feet. Near the first hole, he pulls out a few more. The female chooses one she likes, and waders line it with grass. Here the female lays one, but a large olive-colored egg with brown specks. After sitting for several days, she brings the next egg, and then can replenish the masonry with the third and fourth. He and she are actively involved in incubation. Before the first chick appears, from 26 to 28 days should pass. Both parents are also watching the kids. Chicks will be ready to fly at the age of just over a month. After this, several families with children unite in one flock and begin their wanderings. For the winter, they go to South Asia or Africa. Departure occurs early, around August, but some individuals may linger until September. Sometimes in Germany and England, these waders decide to winter on the spot.
Five subspecies of curlews inhabit our country, and there are eight in total.
Garnier
This is a very tiny little fist. Its weight is only 60 grams. But at the same time, many hunters do not allow the opportunity to catch him, because his meat is very tasty. But for ornithologists, the toeking of these crumbs is of interest. You can hear the muffled sounds made by the garbage in calm and cloudy weather. At the same time, it is impossible to catch where the singing comes from, because the sandpiper flows high and moves very briskly. The sounds of birds playing mating games resemble the stamping on tamped ground: “top-top-top”.
Wader Waders
In our country, this feathered is very common, and perhaps many had to see it, going to nature. Swamp sandpiper, unlike many of its relatives, is of great interest to hunters, since its meat is very tender and delicious in taste.
It can be known under a different name - “godwit”, “nettigel”, and sometimes it is simply called “snail”. In size, this feathered bird resembles a pigeon, but since its beak, neck and legs are elongated, visually it seems larger. The color of the plumage is yellowish-reddish. The female is larger in size, has bright feathers. Although the males have a much redder neck. From wintering, birds return to their marshes by mid-spring. From year to year they remain in their native place, but they can be forced to change their housing by the drying up of the reservoir. In this case, they pick up another swamp, without putting forward excessive requirements for it. Both parents take care of the offspring. But sometimes excessive custody ruins the nest and brood. Wanting to scare away other birds and predators, the male thereby gives out his location to the hunters. Unfortunately, the indefatigable desire of people to profit has led to the fact that entire generations of swamp waders have been destroyed.