Great tit Muscovy. Why is the bird called the Muscovy Tit? Mating season and reproduction

Order: Passeriformes = Passeriformes, passerines
Suborder: Oscines = Singers
Family: Paridae = Titmice
Subfamily: Parinae = Tits

Species: Parus ater Linnaeus, 1758 = Muscovy

The Muscovy, which has a body length of only about 11 centimeters in males, and even smaller in females, is one of the smallest representatives of the tit family. It is a fidgety, rather short-tailed bird with somewhat gnarling feathers on its head. The head is velvety black from above with bright white cheeks (limited from below by black). There is also a white spot on the black nape. It is quite possible that the modern name "Muscovy" comes from the old name "Masking", i.e. tit with a mask on the "face".

The bright black color of the plumage is on the throat and chest in the form of a large shirt-front. The dorsal side is dark gray, the abdomen is light gray, with reddishness on the sides and without a black longitudinal stripe. Wings and tail are bluish-gray, darker and brownier on flight feathers and tail feathers. There are two white stripes on the wings. Young birds in nesting plumage are noticeably dimmer than adults, since their white areas are yellow, although they have all the basic colors of their parents.

Moskovka has a fairly wide range and is distributed throughout Europe, it is found in northwestern Africa, Minor and Central Asia. In the Russian European part, it inhabits the polar forests from the Kola Peninsula and southward to the border of large forests. Although it resides sedentary in the mountains of the Crimea, the Caucasus and southern Siberia, in the Ukraine and the Lower Volga, it is found only in autumn and winter, during winter migrations. Within its vast geographic range, Muscovy reveals subspecies differences in the degree of reddishness of the lower part of the chest and shades of the upper side of the body. The size of the body and the parietal crest are also variable.

The distribution of Muscovy over the territory of the forest regions of Russia depends on its obvious attraction to conifers. The most favorite habitats of Muscovites are old moss spruce forests with half-decayed hollow trunks of individual deciduous trees. In mountainous areas, they mainly keep in the coniferous forest zone, and in the Crimea - in the beech forest zone.

In the forests where Muscovites live, one can constantly hear a thin tit-tit whistling "cit" and loud cries of "tyuy-pi ...", "tsi-pi" or "ti-ti-tyuy". In search of food, Muscovites swarm about on large spruce trees, hanging themselves in various positions to branches and cones in search of prey. Together with the beetles, they carefully examine the trees in search of small insects. The basis of their prey is mainly made up of weevils, bark beetles, as well as small hairy caterpillars, from which these dexterous birds pluck out their soft insides. With the arrival of winter, Muscovites diversify their menu with spruce seeds. To profit from their high-calorie content, they pinch the seed between their fingers, after which they crush the shell of the seed with frequent blows of their small beak.

Moskovka lives mainly in coniferous forests, less often in dense mixed forests. The migrations of these tits are more developed than those of other closely related species; therefore, in some places, starting from August, their true migration takes place. Therefore, in winter, nomadic Muscovites can be found southward up to the steppe Ukraine, and from Siberia they get to Central Asia. At the same time, there are distinct fluctuations in their numbers, which probably depend on local seasonal conditions in the coniferous forests of the northern strip, where the bulk of Muscovites nest. Fluctuations in the number of offspring associated with meteorological and food seasonal conditions can determine the number of migrating individuals. He rarely visits artificial feeders and almost never flies into settlements.

Moskovka nests in coniferous forests, mainly spruce, less often in mixed ones. She places her nest in the hollows of preferably coniferous trees, at a low height (often about 1 m). Often it arranges a nest in rotten stumps, less often between the bare roots of large trees. The taphole size is very small and, as a rule, does not exceed 25-30 mm in diameter.

The muscovy mounts the outer walls of its nest from moss, and, if possible, horsehair; the inner tray is lined with wool, sometimes bird feathers and cobwebs are used for this purpose.

Laying of eggs in Muscovites is usually observed in late April - early May. A full clutch of Muscovy consists of 7-11 white eggs with reddish-brown specks densely located on the shell, often forming a corolla at the blunt end of the egg. Egg sizes: 14 x 11 mm. Both females and males incubate eggs for twelve to fourteen (up to sixteen) days. For about the same time, the chicks are at full board of parents sitting in the nest. Flying chicks appear in early June. In the middle of summer, many pairs of Muscovites have a second clutch, but there are no more than 6-7 eggs in it.

Broods of Muscovites are very noisy and therefore are clearly visible from afar, like in other tits. Therefore, the squeak of a dozen young birds, in chorus demanding food from their parents, can be heard from afar. Later, at the end of summer, broods from different families unite together, and then the autumn flocks of Muscovites reach large sizes. Often several Muscovites join for a time the nomadic flocks of tits, consisting of great, crested and other tits and titmice. At the same time, Muscovites in these flocks prefer to keep a little apart, flitting along the tops of coniferous trees after the flock, looking for prey.

One of the smallest birds of the tit family is Moskovka. Initially, the bird was called "disguise" because of a kind of black cap on its head, but over time the name has slightly transformed.

Muscovy or black tit.
Moskovka thought on a branch.
Tit Muscovy.

Geography of residence

Muscovites live throughout Eurasia and the northwest of African Tunisia. For their habitat, birds prefer coniferous forests, especially spruce forests. You can also meet them in mixed forests, where pines, birches or larch trees grow, and in Africa they settle in cedar forests and juniper plantations. As a rule, Muscovites do not settle above 2000 m above sea level, although in the south-west of China they can be found at an altitude of about 4500 meters.

Usually Muscovites are sedentary, but if the winter becomes too harsh or there is a catastrophic lack of food, birds can move en masse to new areas, over time some of the birds may return back, while the rest remain in a new place.

Appearance

There are more than 20 subspecies of Muscovites, looking at the photo of the bird, it is very difficult to say to which subspecies it belongs. This is due to the fact that the same traits can overlap in different subspecies.

The body length of the Muscovy does not exceed 11.5 cm, and the weight varies from 7 to 12 grams. The nape and head of the bird are black, and the color of the feathers on the cheeks is off-white, on the throat there is a large black spot in the form of a shirt-front. The feathers of the wings and tail are brown-gray, the beak and eyes are black, and the paws are gray-blue. Sexual dimorphism is practically absent, the only difference is that the color of the plumage in females is more faded than in males.

Bird Muscovy.

Muscovy on a twig.

Nutrition and behavior

In cold seasons, the basis of bird nutrition is the seeds of plants and conifers:

pine,
sequoia,
cypress,
sycamore,
juniper berries.

Moskovka in search of food.

Moskovka with food.

During the breeding season, Muscovites become real predators, during this period, various insects in their diet:

butterflies,
dragonflies,
beetles,
ants,
flies,
grasshoppers.

Usually Muscovites live in flocks, they can join flocks of other birds, chubby grenadiers, kings. Muscovites take care of their food on cold winter days, for this they hide seeds and small insects in the crevices of the bark of trees.

A photo of the Muscovy Tit, which is not particularly beautiful, is unlikely to attract Special attention that cannot be said about her voice. Her trills are very melodic and sonorous, similar to the songs of the great tit and blue tit.

Reproduction

Sexual maturity in birds occurs at the age of one year. Muscovites build monogamous couples, remaining faithful to their partner until their death. They arrange their nests in old tree hollows, half-rotten stumps, sometimes in small cracks in rocks or in abandoned burrows of small rodents. The female is responsible for the construction of the nest, inside the nest she covers with moss, horsehair, feathers and cobwebs.

Usually during the season the female makes two clutches with an average of 5-11 white eggs with red-brown spots. After 15-16 days, the chicks are born, and for 18-20 days both parents will be equally responsible for their nutrition. After the chicks grow up and stand on the wing, and this happens after 20 -22 days, they remain with their parents for several more days. At the end of summer, young and old birds unite in flocks.

Muscovy chick before leaving the nest.

the heart of the Muscovy carries out about 1200 contractions per minute,
the average life span of these birds is 9 years,
Muscovites can be kept at home in a cage, getting used to a person, after 2 weeks they are happy to peck grains from a person's hand.

More types of tits.

Moskovka is a small bird belonging to the titmouse family. For its color, this species is also called the black tit.

The appearance of the Muscovy

This small tit weighs from 7 to 12 grams and has a body length of 10 to 12 cm. The nape and head of the bird are painted black, and its cheeks are gray-white.

Closer to the top of the chest, there is a black spot resembling a collar. The feathers on the head form a kind of small neat tuft. Below the bird is painted in grayish-white tones with a brown bloom.

The top of the body is blue-gray, and the sides are buffy. The tail and wings are gray-brown. A characteristic feature of the Muscovy is a small white spot on the back of the head.

The habitat of black tits

Moskovka is widespread throughout Eurasia in its forested areas.

Also, this species is found in Africa, in northwestern Tunisia and in the Atlas Mountains. In Finland and Scandinavia, the northern border of the range is 67 ° north latitude. In the European part Russian Federation this border runs at 65 ° north latitude, in the Ob River valley at 64 ° n. NS. On the Pacific coast of Eurasia, the area extends up to the Sea of Okhotsk.

According to some reports, a separate population exists in the southern part of Kamchatka. In the south, the border of the Muscovy's habitat is the steppe zone. This border passes through the Carpathians, Northern Ukraine, Ryazan, Kaluga, Ulyanovsk regions, Southern Urals, Northern Mongolia, Altai and the upper reaches of the Amur River. In the eastern part of the range, the southern border drops lower, down to the northeastern regions of China.

Moskovka is a very mobile bird.

There are also several isolated areas of the range, including the Transcaucasia, the Caucasus, Syria, Lebanon, Iran, northeastern Turkey and the Crimean peninsula. Outside Eurasia, the Muscovy lives in Sardinia, Corsica, Sicily, Sakhalin, Cyprus, Moneron, the British Isles, the Kuriles. This species is also found on the islands of Hokkaido, Tsushima, Honshu, Jeju, Yakushima, Taiwan.

Muscovite lifestyle

Moskovka lives mainly in coniferous forests, although it is rarely found in mixed pine-deciduous forests. In Africa, Muscovy lives in thickets of cedar and juniper. In the mountains of Europe, Zagros, the Caucasus and north-west Iran, it lives on slopes in forests consisting of Pitsunda and Alepsk pine, as well as beech and oak. As a rule, the black tit does not fly to heights of more than 1800 m above sea level, but in some places it occurs even higher.

Almost throughout the entire territory of its habitat, the Muscovy is sedentary. In especially cold winters and in conditions of a lack of food, these birds can migrate to other areas, but after a while some of the birds return.

In the mountains, these birds roam, going down to the valleys, where there is not much snow. Moskovka almost all the time keeps in flocks, breaking into pairs only during the mating season. Flocks usually number up to 50 individuals, and very often include birds of other species, such as crested tit, warbler, etc.

Meals of Muscovites

During the mating season, various insects and their larvae form the basis of the diet of the Muscovy. These can be bark beetles and weevils, dragonflies, butterflies, aphids, flies, grasshoppers and crickets, ants, caddis flies and other types of insects. In the autumn-winter period, the diet changes a lot. At this time, the Muscovy feeds mainly on the seeds of various conifers.

During the absence of an abundant harvest of coniferous seeds, the Muscovy moves to the tundra, deciduous forests, forest-steppes, and even to man-cultivated landscapes such as fields, plantations and vegetable gardens. In the winter season, this bird very often feeds from feeders in parks and gardens.

Listen to the voice of the Muscovite

Reproduction of Muscovy

The mating season for the Muscovy begins at the end of March and lasts until the end of June. In the north of the range, the beginning of the breeding season may be slightly delayed. During this period, Muscovites form stable monogamous pairs that remain long time... The male begins mating games sitting on a branch and singing a song, shaking his wings.

These birds arrange nests in hollows left by the brown-headed tit, various woodpeckers and other bird species. Often, the nest is located in cracks in rocks, holes of small rodents, or even in a rotten stump. The muscovy builds a cup-shaped nest from moss and horsehair. The bottom is lined with feathers, wool and even cobwebs. The male does not participate in the construction of the nest.

In most of the range, birds carry out two clutches per season. The first clutch takes place from late April to early May, and the second in June. The only exception is the island of Corsica and North Africa, where the Muscovy makes only one clutch per season.

In the first clutch, there are on average 9 eggs (from 5 to 13), in the second there are already fewer, only 6 - 9 eggs. The shell of the eggs of the black tit is white and covered with a brownish speck. The incubation period lasts approximately two weeks. Only the female hatches eggs, while the male is busy hunting for food for her.

There are a lot of tits in our region. Can be found different kinds... And not in all of them you will unmistakably recognize the titmouse. We will tell you about the most curious titmice.

Ordinary people unmistakably recognize the great tit and the blue tit. Outwardly, they are very similar, but it is not difficult to distinguish between them.

So, titmouse is large. This bird is really larger than its counterparts - the size of a sparrow, weighs an average of 15–20 grams. Black head and neck, white cheeks, yellow belly with a black tie stripe and wingtips with a blue tint. Most often, it is flocks of great tits that jump in our parks in search of feeders.

The great tit is melodious and talkative - it emits up to 40 sounds. Great tits live most often in deciduous and mixed forests, they like it when there are water bodies nearby.

Blue tit in winter it often adjoins flocks of great tits. Often, blue tit live in large parks and gardens. This tit is very friendly and, when it realizes that you will not harm it, it will even take food from your hands. But this will take a long time, the tits are timid.

The easiest way to distinguish the blue tit from the great tit is the blue cap on the head and the dark stripes on both sides of the beak. Also, the blue tit is smaller than its counterpart, weighing about 8-14 grams.

Black, long-tailed, mustachioed

Moskovka also called the black tit. This description speaks for itself. This tiny bird traditionally lives in coniferous forests. These birds avoid crowded places. To meet such a crumb in the park is a small miracle. An inexperienced eye from a distance will mistake the Muscovy for a sparrow rather than for a tit. She has a black cap on her head and a black collar. The wings and tail are gray, the belly is beige. On the back of the head there is a light spot. The bird weighs from 7 to 12 grams.

Long-tailed tit, as you might guess, has a luxurious long tail... This titmouse is also called "opolovnik". It weighs about 8 grams. The bird looks like a ladle from a distance, hence the name. Unlike other titmice, the blackbird does not live in hollows. The bird makes rounded nests.

Whiskered tit - a rarity for our area, but nevertheless you can find it. Belgorod ornithologist Alexander Vakulenko back in 2001, observed flocks of baleen tits in the vicinity of Belgorod and in the Rovensky region. The length of the mustached tit is about 15 cm. It is light brown, with a gray head, an orange beak, from which black stripes resembling a mustache extend along the plumage.

Gadgets

Brown-headed gadget, she powder, loves solitude. In noisy parks, you are unlikely to meet her, but in a deep forest, on an overgrown river bank, it is very likely.

The powder weighs up to 14 grams. He has a short neck, because of this, the bird looks like a ball. In color, the bird resembles a sparrow: the head is black, matte, the body is gray with a brown tint.

Unlike powder, a real rarity for our places black-headed gadget.

“This year, in the spring, on the bank of the Belgorod reservoir in a pine forest, I marked a black-headed gadget. Zoogeographically, this species should be in our country, but due to climate change, natural climatic zones, it probably turns out that its density is not high at the present time, says ornithologist Alexander Vakulenko. - I met a black-headed gadget in the premarital period. At this time, they behave somewhat carelessly, it is easier to detect them, they give loud voices, give out species songs. Perhaps these were some kind of stray specimens with us, but there was such a single meeting. "

Brown-headed and black-headed tit is practically indistinguishable, external difference- the black-headed chick has a shiny black cap on its head.

“They are so similar in appearance that even in the field, you cannot always distinguish in the hand. And they differ well in their voices, ”explained the ornithologist.

If you want to feed the titmouse, then the feeder must be done in such a way that the pigeons do not get there. Tits are meek birds, they will not argue with a pigeon for food. Therefore, make a feeder with an inlet for the size of a tit.

Tits nest at a height of 1.5 to 5 meters. It will be good if you hang the feeder at least one and a half meters. This will save the bird from uninvited cats and bully children.

You can give the titmouse cereals, nuts, seeds. In general, sunflower seeds, especially if they are small, oily, will greatly help a small bird to survive the winter. The seeds do not need to be fried.

Of course, lard and meat also need to be given to the titmouse, but with one but. In no case should they be salty or peppery. This is tantamount to feeding a cat herring. The bird may die.

Black bread is not useful for titmouses. However, like any yeast, dry, with a lot of spices. Bread can ferment in the belly of a bird and kill it.

You can put a piece of chalk in the feeder. Calcium is good for birds.

Moskovka or black tit, the moss is one of the smallest birds inhabiting the territory. The weight of this bird is only 7-10 grams, the body length is about 12 centimeters. A very nimble, mobile bird that inhabits the conifers of our country sometimes, it is found in forest plantations and parks. Doesn't like settling in settlements, but can fly to feeders in search of food. In winter, they can live in a flock in parks and squares.

Origin of the species and description

Periparus ater Moskovka bird belonging to the order, family, genus Periparus, species Moskovka. Moskovka belongs to the most ancient order of passerine birds. The first warblers inhabited our planet even during the Eocene. In our time, the order of passerines is extremely numerous; it includes about 5400 species.

These birds are widespread throughout the world. The Periparus ater species in our region is represented by 3 subspecies, two of them are included in the group of subspecies "phaeonotus", these birds are distributed mainly in, in the Middle and. In the European part of our country, a subspecies of R. a is widespread. ater.

Video: Moskovka

Muscovites are small, modestly colored birds. Females and males have the same color, sometimes the color of males may be slightly brighter than that of females. On the face of the bird there is a kind of "mask" of dark color because of which the birds got their name. The upper part of the head is colored blue-silver with an olive tint, the underside of the bird is light.

There are brown feathers on the sides and undertail. From the line of the eyes to the throat and top of the breast, the color is white; on the breast, flanks and under the wings there are small black spots. The wings and tail of the bird have a brownish tint. Small black beak. The head is round, the eyes are small, the iris of the eyes is dark. On the limbs there are four fingers, at the ends of which there are claws. This kind was first described by the scientist Karl Linnaeus in his work "The System of Nature" in 1758.

Appearance and features

The Muscovy is very similar to ordinary tits, but still the Muscovites are slightly different from other representatives of this family. These creatures are considered the smallest birds of the tit family. The size of the bird from beak to tail is about 11 cm, and the Muscovy weighs only 8-12 grams.

The beak is straight, small in size. The head is small, round in shape. A distinctive feature of these birds is their unusual color. White “cheeks” are highlighted on the bird's face. From the beak to the entire head, the color is dark. One gets the impression that a "mask" is put on the bird's face, which is why the bird got such a name.

When the Muscovy is excited, she lifts the feathers on her forehead in the form of a small tuft. There is also a white spot on the top of the bird. The main color is gray with brown. The feathers on the head are black with a silvery-blue tint. On the wings of a Muscovy, feathers are gray, there are patterns in the form of white stripes. The tail consists of a tuft of feathers.

Males and females are practically indistinguishable in appearance. Juveniles have a coloration similar to adult birds. Dark blue, almost black cap with a brownish tinge, on the cheeks in the back of the head, where there should be white spots, the color is yellowish. The stripes on the wings are also yellowish.

Trills of these birds are heard everywhere from mid-March to September. The singing of the Muscovites is quiet, the voice is squeaky. The song consists of two or three-syllable phrases of the type: "tuiit", "pii-tii" or "CCC". Females and males sing together. The repertoire of one bird can contain up to 70 songs. Sometimes tits are used to teach canary singing. V wildlife moss live about 8-9 years.

Interesting fact: Muscovites have an excellent memory, they can remember places where food is, people who feed the birds, and most importantly, after a long stay in unfamiliar places, these birds can find their nest and places where they hid food.

Now you know what does a moskovka bird look like... Let's see where the black tit is found.

Where does the Muscovy live?

Moskovki inhabit woodlands, Severnaya. Also found in the Atlas Mountains region, in Africa and. In the northern part of Eurasia, these birds can be found in and in the Russian north, in These birds inhabit large numbers, Ryazan region, live on and in the northern part. And also these birds inhabit Turkey, the Caucasus, etc. Sometimes moss can be found on the island of Sicily, the British Isles, Honshu, Taiwan, and the Kuril Islands.

Muscovy settles mainly in spruce forests. Sometimes a mixed forest can also be chosen for life. If it lives in mountainous areas, nest on wooded slopes where pines and oaks grow. It rarely settles at an altitude of more than 2000 meters above the level, however, these birds are seen at an altitude of about 4500 m. Muscovites never sit still, and in search of food they can explore new areas.

In places with a mild climate in the Caucasus and southern Russia, birds are sedentary. And also these birds often remain for wintering, and in central Russia moving to parks and squares. Muscovites nest in the forest. These birds usually do not make seasonal migrations, however, in the absence of food or during a harsh winter, birds can make flocking flights, mastering new territories.

Usually habitual places are used for nesting, in rare cases they nest in new territories. The nest is built in a hollow or other natural cavity. Sometimes they can settle in an abandoned burrow of small rodents. Due to the abundance of enemies in the wild, and the inability to long-term flights, Muscovites try to stay near trees and bushes.

What does Muscovy eat?

Moskovka in food is very unpretentious. The bird's diet depends on the area in which the bird lives and the season. In spring and summer, birds eat more insects and plant food; from mid-summer, birds switch to plant food. In the winter season, Muscovites are content with seeds, rowan berries and what the bird has stored in the summer for the winter.

The main diet of the Muscovy includes:

caterpillars;
seeds of coniferous plants;
rowan berries, juniper;
seeds of beech, sequoia, sycamore and other plants.

This bird also loves to feast on juicy fruits of ripe fruits, nuts. Muscovites are great at climbing tree branches to get their own food.

Interesting fact: Muscovites are very thrifty, and in the wild these birds work hard in the summer making supplies for the winter. The bird makes a kind of "pantry" under the bark of trees, where it hides its reserves, protecting them from snow. Often these reserves are enough for the bird for the whole winter.

Birds that live near a person's dwelling fly into the feeders and peck bread crumbs, nuts, seeds. Although these birds are afraid of people, they quickly get used to those who feed them, remember the place where the feeder is located and come again.

Features of character and lifestyle

Muscovites, like many tits, are very mobile. They constantly move between trees, crawl along branches in search of food. They lead, do not like migrations and leave their usual habitats only in cases of lack of food, or very bad weather conditions. For nesting, birds love to return to their usual places.

Muscovites live in small flocks of 50-60 individuals, however, in Siberia and the conditions of the North, flocks were noted in which there were up to a thousand individuals. Flocks are usually mixed, muscovites get along well with warblers, tufted titmice, bloodworms and pikas. During the nesting period, birds divide into pairs and build nests, populating a large territory.

Tits are very good family men, they form pairs for almost the whole life, take care of offspring for a long time. The nature of the birds is calm, the birds coexist peacefully within the flock, there are usually no conflicts. Wild birds are afraid of people, and try not to approach people, however, in the winter season, severe weather conditions force birds to move to cities and towns.

Birds quickly get used to people. If the Muscovy is kept in captivity, this bird very quickly gets used to humans. Already after a week, the bird can begin to peck seeds from the owner's hands, and over time, the bird can become completely tame. Tits are very trusting, they easily get used to people.

Social structure and reproduction

The mating season for Muscovites begins at the end of March. During this period, males begin to attract females with loud singing, which is heard everywhere. And also they notify other males about where their territory is, marking its borders. In addition to singing, males show their readiness to create a family by floating beautifully in the air.

During mating dance the male fluffs up his tail and wings, while continuing to sing loudly. The choice of a place for the nest is a matter for the male, but the female equips the dwelling. The female makes a nest inside a narrow hollow, in a rock crevice or in an abandoned rodent burrow. Soft moss, feathers, and scraps of animal hair are used to build the nest.

Interesting fact: Females are very protective of their cubs; during incubation of eggs, the female does not leave the nest for about two weeks.

In one summer, Muscovites manage to make two clutches. The first clutch consists of 5-12 eggs and forms in mid-April. The second clutch is formed in June and consists of 6-8 eggs. The eggs of the Muscovites are white with brown specks. The incubation of eggs lasts about two weeks. At the same time, the female incubates eggs practically without getting up from the clutch, and the male protects the family and obtains food for the female.

Small chicks are born covered with soft, gray down. The male brings food to the chicks, and the mother warms them up and feeds them for 4 more days, and later begins to get food for the cubs together with the male, leaving the chicks in the nest. Chicks begin to fly away from the nest at the age of 22 days, while learning, the juveniles can fly, spend the night in the nest for some time, later the young chicks fly away from the nest, huddling in flocks with other birds.

Natural enemies of Muscovites

These small birds have a lot of natural enemies: rodents, martens, foxes and cats, so birds try to build nests in places inaccessible to these predators. They choose hollows, crevices with a narrow entrance so that predators do not climb into them.

Most Muscovites die not from the clutches of predators, but from harsh conditions external environment... Birds do not tolerate cold well, in winter wild birds, often die of hunger without finding food for themselves, especially during snowy winters, when their supplies are covered with snow. To survive the winter, birds migrate to cities in small flocks. People can save many of these cute birds simply by hanging a feeder from a tree and bringing in some grain and bread crumbs.

Population and status of the species

Today the species Periparus ater has the status of the species causing the least concern. The population of this bird species is the most numerous; birds densely inhabit the forests of Eurasia and North Africa. It is extremely difficult to track the population size of these birds, as birds keep in mixed flocks and can fly, mastering new areas. Since Muscovites love to settle in spruce and mixed forests in many regions of our country, the population of this species is decreasing due to deforestation.

For example, in the Moscow region, the population of these birds has greatly decreased. Moskovka is included in Moscow and the species is assigned a category 2, a rare species on the territory of Moscow with a decreasing number. Only about 10-12 pairs nest on the territory of Moscow. Birds may just not like noise big city and they choose quieter areas for life.

Due to the decrease in the population of these birds in Moscow and the region, measures have been taken to protect birds:

famous bird nesting sites are located in specially protected areas;
parks and green areas are being developed on the territory of the metropolis;
bird watchers monitor the population of these birds on the territory of Moscow and create comfortable conditions for their life.

In general, the species is numerous throughout the country, birds feel good in nature and reproduce quickly, the species does not need special protection.

Moskovka very useful bird. These birds are real orderlies of the forest, who destroy beetles and insects that damage plants and are carriers of various diseases. Birds treat people well, and in winter they can fly to cities in search of food. It is in our power to make sure that these birds live comfortably next to us. They just need to be fed at a time when in their natural environment the birds have nothing to feed on.

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