Without birds, the world would not be so bright and original. A huge number of birds live on our planet, and how numerous they are, they are just as diverse. And how they sing - any singer can envy the flooding bird trills! How often, sitting on an open veranda in summer, we listened with pleasure to the sounds of a summer night filled with bird voices. And for some reason, it is at night that bird voices especially touch the heart. And it happens that a nightingale trill is replaced by an alarming hoot of an owl or a frightening cry of an owl - the soul from such sounds “goes to the heels.”
Night birds of prey
Among birds, as well as among mammals, there are predators. And as among all predators, there are those who lead a daytime lifestyle and who prefer to hunt at night. Night birds attract people with their mystery, because during the day you can’t meet them, but at night … Few of us dare to go for a walk in the night forest or park. Therefore, these feathered night predators are overgrown with legends -birds hiding from daylight. Eighteen species of nocturnal birds live on the territory of Russia, the most common of them are the gray owl, barn owl, owl, eagle owl, white or polar owl.
Tawny Owl
This bird belongs to the genus Owl. And it should be noted that this species is very numerous: the spotted owl, the gray owl, the tawny owl and others. This type of owl is most common in our country. If you happened to meet an owl in the forest, then most likely it was a tawny owl. This nocturnal predator is small (smaller than a crow) and has an inconspicuous gray color. The gray plumage is, as it were, crossed out with black strokes, there are white spots on the shoulders. The Tawny Owl can also be recognized by its voice: the female emits a deep bass trill, and the male calls the female with a drawn-out “hoo-hoo-hoo” or piercingly calls out “ki-wee”. These nocturnal birds live in deciduous forests and old city parks. The gray owl hunts for small birds and rodents, it is not averse to feasting on large insects. All owls are exclusively nocturnal predators - birds catch prey only at night, it is almost impossible to meet it hunting during the day.
Barn owl
This bird belongs to the barn owl family, the genus barn owl. These birds settled throughout Russia, with the exception of the Far North. The fact is that this bird does not accumulate subcutaneous fat at all, and therefore prefers not to settle in areas with a harsh Arctic climate. The barn owl is a small bird, the size ofdaw. Body size - thirty-five to thirty-eight centimeters. The barn owl has a very slender body and long legs. The plumage is soft and fluffy. Barn owls differ in color from each other - it all depends on the habitat. As a rule, the upper part of the body is reddish-red, and the lower part is either white or yellow. Barn owls, like all nocturnal birds, feed on small rodents and birds. During the day, these birds sleep. For overnight stay, natural niches are chosen: hollows and crevices in trees, they can settle in attics and in old bird nests.
Owl
This bird is very modest in size. The length of the body is not more than twenty centimeters. But despite this, the owl is a very good hunter and can catch prey a little smaller than itself. The color of the plumage is dark brown with white spots, on the legs there are white feathers. This bird is distributed throughout our country. The owl is a nocturnal bird, but it can also be found during the day. The bird sees well not only at night and will never let a person near it. If you frighten off a feathered bird from its familiar place, then it will fly low above the ground. It must be said that the owl, although it belongs to nocturnal predators, can arrange hunting in the evening twilight and even during the day. Prefers mice, small insectivores, reptiles and birds. At night, the owl can be recognized by the characteristic cry “ku-vit, ku-vit”. This bird nests in crevices, hollows of trees, rotten stumps, in the attics of houses and even in haystacks. A couple of owls create for life.
Owl
Filin is enougha large bird of the owl order, the genus owl, which settled throughout Europe, is found in Asia and Africa. Prefers hard-to-reach dense forests, steppes, where it is possible to hide from prying eyes. The length of the owl reaches seventy-five centimeters. It weighs between two and four kilograms. The upper part of the body is painted in a reddish-brown color with dark spots, the lower part is the color of light ocher. Feathers stick out above the bird's eyes, which many mistake for ears. Paws are feathered to the very claws. The plumage is very soft and loose, thanks to which the flight of the eagle owl is almost silent. This bird is an excellent hunter - not a single mouse will hide from a keen eye even at night. And sharp claws and a strong beak will not miss the prey. Eagle owls lead a sedentary lifestyle and, even when hunting, do not fly far from their homes. These birds are solitary, and only during the mating season pair up.
Snowy Owl
This bird is the largest of the order of owls living in the tundra. Females are larger than males. The size of the body in length reaches seventy and sixty-five centimeters, respectively, and the weight is from two and a half to three kilograms. Plumage color - white with dark speckles. This coloring makes it possible to merge with the environment in winter. The polar or snowy owl is a very good hunter. The main diet of her diet is lemmings. In a year, an owl eats more than one thousand six hundred lemmings. It also catches hares, ermines, pikas and other small animals. This bird has a very interesting hunting tactic: it lies in wait for prey, sitting onground, and as soon as a careless animal approaches, it rushes at it with lightning speed.
Which birds can be heard on summer nights in the suburbs?
But night birds are interesting not only for their hunting habits - singing birds are also of interest. After all, more than once, having heard the wonderful trills of a night bird, we were eager to find out who this night singer was. This is especially true for residents of megacities, where the hum of cars drowns out the voices of nature. Singing night birds of the Moscow region are, as a rule, nightingales and garden warblers. The trill of the nightingale must have been heard by everyone. But few people can boast of having met this midnight singer in the wild. This bird has a completely inconspicuous gray plumage, and even if you meet him in a garden or forest, you will hardly guess that this is the same midnight artist who did not let you sleep with his exciting trills. The warbler's singing is less bright - this bird adopts the sounds of other birds to a greater extent. The characteristic sound for her is the chirping "check-check". She lives in floodplains, along the banks of reservoirs and in gardens.
Conclusion
The world of birds is diverse and amazing. Without them, our planet would not be so delightful: nocturnal and daytime birds are its real beauty, so take care of them.
