A message on the topic of ecological group of birds. Ecological groups of birds at nesting sites. Ecological group of bird class

An ecological group unites different types of organisms that have similar adaptations to certain environmental conditions or lifestyle. Environmental groups birds are distinguished on the following grounds: by the nature of their diet, by their habitats, by the nature of nesting and some other characteristics.

Often, birds from different, sometimes distant from each other, systematic groups fall into the same ecological group, since the taxonomy is based on genetic proximity, degree of kinship, common origin.

Ecological groups of birds by habitat

There are four groups of birds in the habitat:

Forest birds differ from other groups in that they have rather small legs as well as a medium-sized head. Their necks are not visible, the eyes are on the sides.

The bird of the coasts of water bodies and swamps has a very long neck and long legs. They need them in order to get food in the swamps.

Birds of open spaces are adapted for migration and therefore have very strong wings. Their bones weigh less than those of other types of birds.

The last group is waterfowl that live near or in water bodies. These birds have a rather powerful beak that helps them feed on fish.

Birds of the forest. Most modern birds are associated with the forest. Everyone knows our forest birds: tits, woodpeckers, blackbirds, grouse, black grouse, wood grouse, well adapted to life in the forests. They have short, rounded wings and long tails. This allows the birds to quickly take off and maneuver between trees.

Among forest birds there are herbivores (granivores), insectivores, carnivores and omnivores. Depending on the nature of the food, birds have different beaks and limbs.

Large forest birds - hazel grouse, black grouse, wood grouse - spend a lot of time on the ground. With strong legs, armed with large claws, they rake the forest floor, select seeds of plants, insects, earthworms. Strong beaks bite buds, young shoots of trees and shrubs, feed on juicy berries of blueberries, blueberries, lingonberries.

A magpie and a goshawk have a typical appearance for forest birds: relatively short rounded wings and a long tail. These birds perfectly maneuver among forest trees, have a nimble flight. However, due to the use of different foods, their legs and beaks are developed differently. The hawk is a predator: various small birds serve as its prey. With strong legs armed with powerful claws, the hawk seizes the victim, dismembers it with a bent predatory beak. The magpie has a small cone-shaped beak, which helps it to eat a variety of foods (to be omnivorous): to collect fruits and seeds from the ground, grab insects, worms, a large beetle, and even catch a small mouse.

Birds of open spaces live in meadows, steppes, deserts. They spend a lot of time on the ground, looking for food among the plants. They have strong legs and a long neck, allowing them to spot the enemy at a great distance. One of the typical representatives of the steppe regions of our country is the bustard. This is a large bird weighing 15-16 kg, it feeds mainly on plant foods. Possessing a protective coloration, it often hides among the vegetation, becoming completely invisible. It makes a nest on the ground, in areas of virgin steppe. Brood type chicks. In connection with the plowing of virgin steppes, the number of bustards has sharply decreased, and it is included in the Red Book of Russia.

Ostriches are typical birds in open spaces.

Waterfowl swim well, many dive. They have a flattened boat-like body, webbed feet, and legs are shifted far back. They move on the ground, waddling awkwardly, with a duck gait. The plumage is dense, with water-repellent properties: the secretions of the coccygeal gland prevent the feathers from getting wet, with which the birds carefully lubricate the plumage. Representatives of waterfowl are ducks, geese, swans.

A typical representative of waterfowl is the mallard duck, which feeds in shallow water. Horny denticles are located along the edges of its flattened wide beak. When the jaws are incompletely closed through the lattice formed by the teeth, the ducks filter the water, leaving food objects in their mouths: crustaceans, insect larvae, small fish, vegetative parts of plants. The mallard feeds on shallow depths. Sometimes, lowering her head into the water, turning over and exposing the back of her body from the water, she collects food from the bottom and strains out. Mallard duck nests on the ground among the plants. The lining for the nest is its own downy feathers plucked from the chest and belly. There are 8-14 eggs in a clutch. Brood type chicks.

Birds of the shores of reservoirs and swamps live on the shores of reservoirs and in swamps, have many common structural features. They have long thin legs and a neck, a large beak. In swampy places, their body, raised high above the ground, does not get wet. They feed on frogs, fish, insects, worms, molluscs. Moving through swamps and coastal shoals, they seize prey with their beak, like tweezers. Such are storks, herons, waders. Many of them nest on the banks, near the water, others arrange nests in trees. Storks have long lived next to humans. People take care of them by arranging nest platforms.

Seabirds - guillemots, puffins, gulls - form bird colonies on steep cliffs. They are adapted to hover over the sea surface.

Ecological groups of birds by nesting sites

There are five groups of birds in total at nesting sites. The main difference lies only in the form of the nest in which these birds live:

Crown-nesting birds build their nests, as the name implies, in the crown of trees (orioles, blinks).

Shrub birds locate their nests near or in the bushes themselves (wren, robins).

Land-nesting birds decide to locate their nest directly on the ground (larks, skates, buntings, waders).

Hollow-nesting birds live directly in hollows (woodpeckers, tits, pikas, flycatchers).

And the last group of birds, burrowing birds (shore swallows, bee-eats, kingfishers), live in burrows, underground.

Ecological groups of birds by type of food

On this basis, four groups are distinguished. Representatives of each of them eat a certain type of food:

Insectivorous birds (for example, tits or pikas) have thin pointed beaks, thanks to which they can pull their prey from leaves or take out from thin cracks.

Herbivorous birds, including granivorous birds (for example, greenfinches) have a powerful beak, thanks to which they can break through the dense shells of the fruit. And the sharp ends of the beak help us to pull out seeds from the cones of various trees.

Birds of prey (eg eagle) feed on various small birds. They have strong legs with powerful claws, thanks to which they grab prey.

Omnivorous birds (eg magpies) have a tapered beak that helps them feed on various types of food.

Insectivorous tits, pikas, beetles, and chiffchaffs have thin pointed beaks that allow you to get insects out of crevices in the bark, grab them from leaves, and take out cones from the scales. Sharp claws and long fingers allow these birds to hold onto branches.

A peculiar group of birds foraging in the air are swallows and swifts. They spend almost their entire life in the air, hunting for insects from morning to evening. They have long, sickle-curved wings. The beak is small, and the opening of the mouth is huge, the corners of the mouth go behind the eyes. With their wide open mouths, they catch flying insects, while the size of the oral funnel increases the bristles located at the corners of the mouth. In good dry weather, insects rise high above the ground, and when the air humidity rises, the wings of insects get wet, they fly low above the ground. Swallows and swifts follow them, therefore, according to the flight of swallows and swifts, they predict the approach of rain.

Granivorous birds - greenfinches, pike-holes, grosbeaks. They have a powerful beak, with which they split the dense shells of the fruit. So the grosbeak successfully breaks down the strong fruits of bird cherry and cherry. The sharp ends of the crossing beak of the crossbills allow them to deftly extract seeds from pine and spruce cones.

Predators have common features. They have large strong legs, armed with sharp claws, a hook-like curved beak. These are the characteristics of daytime predator birds, owls and even shrikes related to songbirds. The prey of many predators are small animals, which they look out for from a great height, flying over the fields. Other predators catch small birds, feed on fish, large insects. Birds of prey fly beautifully, among them there are long soaring ones, for example, buzzards, eagles and vultures. Falcons pursue prey in the air, and then, diving on it, can reach speeds of up to 300 km / h. They have sharp, sickle-shaped wings that allow for fast flight.

Ecological groups of birds stand out for the following reasons:

by the nature of the diet,
by habitats,
by the nature of nesting.

By habitat there are four groups of birds:

Forest birds differ from other groups in that they have rather small legs as well as a medium-sized head. Their necks are not visible, the eyes are on the sides.
The bird of the coasts of water bodies and swamps has a very long neck and long legs. They need them in order to get food in the swamps.
Birds in open spaces are adapted for migration and therefore have very strong wings. Their bones weigh less than those of other types of birds.
Waterfowl that live near bodies of water or in bodies of water. These birds have a rather powerful beak that helps them feed on fish.

Ecological groups of birds by nesting places:

Crown-nesting birds build their nests, as the name implies, in the crown of trees (orioles, zabliki).
Shrub birds locate their nests near or in the bushes themselves (wren, robin).
Land-nesting birds decide to locate their nest directly on the ground (larks, skates, buntings, waders).
Hollow-nesting birds live directly in hollows (woodpeckers, tits, pikas, flycatchers).
A group of birds, burrows (shore swallows, bee-eats, kingfishers), live in burrows, underground.

Ecological groups of birds by type of food:

Insectivorous birds (tits or pikas) have thin pointed beaks, thanks to which they can pull their prey from leaves or take out from thin cracks.
Herbivorous birds, including granivorous birds (greenfinches) have a powerful beak, thanks to which they can break through the dense shells of the fruit. And the sharp ends of the beak help us to pull out seeds from the cones of various trees.
Birds of prey (eagle) feed on various small birds. They have strong legs with powerful claws, thanks to which they grab prey.
Omnivorous birds (magpies) have a tapered beak that helps them feed on various types of food.

Birds open spaces there are two directions in the development of adaptations. Some birds are adapted to locomotion on the ground in search of food. Fleeing from enemies, they almost do not use their wings, but quickly run away. Others, on the other hand, mostly use their wings when moving and hardly use their legs. First group of birds lost the ability to fly and they had wing reduction... At the same time, they have a strong the legs developed, the toes were shortened and the back toe disappeared... All of these traits are good for running fast. An example of birds that have adapted to running can be different kinds ostriches, chicken, etc.

The second group of birds(diurnal predators, owls, etc.) has improved wings, and their legs can maintain normal development or even be reduced to a certain extent.

Birds of the forest use all horizons of arboreal vegetation both for shelter for nests and for food. Due to the arboreal lifestyle, the legs of most birds are arranged in such a way that free fingers are opposed to each other... This gives them the ability to wrap around the branches from two sides. A number of bird species have adapted climb vertically growing trunks trees (nuthatches, pikas and woodpeckers). All these birds the claws of the fingers are very sharp and strongly curved. Woodpeckers and pikas also use their tail for climbing., which serves partly for support, and partly for balance during the period of reclining the front of the body. Finches, tits and many other species of birds have adapted to climb branches and hang from below. Climbing trees, birds get their own food. Fewer people find their food using the wings. Thus, the birds of the forest also show an adaptation in two directions - in the development of the legs and in the development of the wings.

Among birds of prey distinguish between:

a detachment of daytime birds of prey hunting during the day,
a squad of owls hunting at night.

All these birds have powerful legs who are armed with large, sharp and strong claws, and crocheted beak.

Daytime birds of prey settle in the steppes, deserts, forests, plains, in the mountains. They do not eat vegetable food at all. They are fed by animals, birds, fish and insects. Some types of predators catch live prey (falcons, hawks, eagles, buzzards, etc.), while others eat only dead animals (vultures, vultures, vultures).

Ecological features of swamps and coasts of small reservoirs very similar. Therefore, some species of birds are common both for the shores of water bodies and for swamps.

When getting food, some wading birds use mainly kicking, other - wings.

In the first group of birds, the legs are characterized by a number of features:

long length,
deprivation of plumage on the ankle joint (ankles),
considerable length of the front toes, often connected by membranes.

All these are adaptations to habitat in places with viscous soil and the presence of shallow waters. In swamps and on the shores of water bodies, waders, herons, cranes, storks, ducks, daytime predators, gulls, etc. live.

Birds of the steppes and deserts... Due to the fact that it is difficult for birds to hide in open spaces, in the conditions of steppes and deserts, they have formed in the course of evolution long legs and neck... Thanks to this adaptation, birds can survey the area far and see the approach of various predators. Birds of steppes and deserts walk a lot in search of food among vegetation, so their legs, as a rule, are well developed. Fleeing from danger, some birds of the steppes and deserts do not fly away, but run away.

In our article, we want to talk about the extraordinary diversity of birds on Earth. Depending on the classification, there are between 9,800 and 10,050 modern bird species. If you think about it, this is an impressive figure.

The origin of birds

Modern science believes that birds evolved from ancient reptiles. This is indicated by some common features structures with reptiles: dry skin, feathers, like reptile scales, the similarity of embryos, eggs.

It must be said that already in the Jurassic period there was an intermediate form between birds and reptiles called Archeopteryx. And at the end of the Mesozoic, real birds appeared. Modern birds have characteristic progressive features that distinguish them from reptiles. These are developed organs of hearing, vision, coordination of movements with certain centers in the cerebral cortex, the appearance of warm-bloodedness as a result of changes in the nervous and respiratory systems, the presence of a four-chambered heart and spongy lungs.

Variety of birds

Now the bird world is very diverse. It is customary to divide all birds into three superorders:

Keelless. Most of the representatives of this group have poorly developed wings. Such birds do not fly, but they can run quickly and well. A striking example is the African ostrich that lives in the savannas, semi-deserts and steppes of Africa, Australia and South America.
Penguins. This group is quite small. Its representatives live mainly in the Southern Hemisphere on the shores of Antarctica. These birds also do not know how to fly, but they swim beautifully. Their forelimbs have been modified into flippers. On ice, penguins move in an upright position, sliding and leaning on their tail. An interesting fact is that they do not build nests. They store the egg on the membranes of the limbs, hiding them under the folds of fat on the tummy. In general, a large fat layer protects penguins from the cold.
Keel. This group is very numerous. More than twenty detachments belong to it. These are passerines, chickens, anseriformes, falconiformes, woodpeckers, etc.

As part of the article, we want to show the variety of birds on specific examples some representatives of the feathered world, since it is simply impossible to talk about all of them.

Ostrich

The African ostrich is the largest bird on Earth. Previously, they included other related species, rhea and emu. However, modern researchers classify them as separate units. Therefore, now, from a scientific point of view, there is only one real ostrich - the African one.

The first thing that surprises the bird is its enormous size. In height, it is no less than a large horse. The height of the ostrich ranges from 1.8 to 2.7 meters, and the weight reaches 75 kg. There are also such large males that weigh up to 131 kilograms. Naturally, most of the growth falls on the neck and legs. And the bird's head, on the contrary, is very small, which is even less reflected in the intelligence of birds.

Feathers in birds grow evenly throughout the body, but in most birds they are located along special lines called pterilia. African ostriches lack a keel, and therefore they are generally not adapted to flight. But their legs do an excellent job with running. The bird has very long legs and highly developed leg muscles. There are only two toes on each leg. One is huge with a claw, the other is smaller. The second finger helps maintain balance while running.

There are many feathers on the body, tail and wings of the bird, but the head, neck and legs have only short down, it seems that they are naked. Females and males of the African ostrich differ in plumage color. In addition, different species can have different colors of paws and beak.

Habitat of the African ostrich

The African ostrich lives almost throughout Africa; it cannot be found only in the Sahara and North Africa. There was a time when this bird also lived on the lands adjacent to the African continent, in Syria and on the Arabian Peninsula.

In general, ostriches prefer open plains. They inhabit dry woodlands, grassy savannas, semi-deserts. But dense thickets, marshlands, quicksands of deserts are not to their taste. This is due to the fact that there they cannot develop high speed while running. They lead by uniting in small groups. Very rarely, a flock can include up to 50 individuals, and they can graze along with antelopes and zebras. There is no constancy in the pack, but a clear hierarchy reigns. High-ranking individuals hold the tail and neck vertically, while the weaker ones obliquely. Birds are active at dusk, and rest at night and during the heat of the day.

On the one hand, ostriches are stupid, but on the other, they are extremely cautious. While eating, they constantly look around, examining the surroundings. Having noticed the enemy, they quickly move away, not wanting to collide with the predator. They have very good eyesight. They are able to notice the enemy from a kilometer away. Many animals follow the behavior of the ostrich, if they themselves do not have such good eyesight. The ostrich can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour, and in very rare cases, up to 90 kilometers per hour.

Sparrow

Speaking about the diversity of birds on the planet, let's move from the largest representative to one of the smallest - to the sparrow. For us, such a bird is familiar from childhood. The sparrow is a bird that is widespread in cities and towns. It is small in size, weighing from 20 to 35 grams. The bird is a member of the crab-like order, in which, in addition to it, there are more than 5,000 species. The largest representative of this group is the raven, and the smallest is the king.

The sparrow is a bird that got its name in ancient times. And it is connected with the fact that birds are very fond of raiding farm fields. Driving them away, people shouted "Bey thief."

In Russia, there are two types of sparrows: brownie (city) and village. An interesting fact is that this species of birds has a special structure of the eyes, and these birds see the whole world in pink. A sparrow consumes a significant amount of energy per day, and therefore cannot starve for more than two days.

House sparrow

The birds have brown plumage with longitudinal black stripes. In length, they do not exceed seventeen centimeters, and weigh no more than 35 grams. Imagine the world of birds is so diverse and rich that there are only more than 16 species. Once this bird lived only in Northern Europe. But then gradually the sparrows settled on almost all continents, except for the Arctic. Now they can be seen even in South Africa, America, Australia, where they were brought at the beginning of the twentieth century.

It should be noted that sparrows always settle near a person, and lead a sedentary existence. And only birds living in more northern regions fly away to warmer regions for the winter.

Sparrows are the eternal companions of man. They are very fertile. Their diet is based on plant foods. But birds catch insects for their chicks. In villages, birds fly to the fields to pick up grains there. Sometimes sparrows peck fruits and berries in gardens, thereby causing damage to people.

In one summer, two or even three generations of offspring can be bred.

Stork

The stork is an extraordinary bird. She has long become a symbol of peace on earth. The white bird is so beautiful and graceful that many songs and poems have been composed about it. The stork family is represented by twelve species. These are quite large individuals. In adulthood, they reach a meter in height, and the wingspan is two meters. All storks have long legs, neck and beak.

They are common on almost all continents. They live not only in the tropics, but also in temperate latitudes. Those individuals that live in a warm climate do not fly away for the winter, while the rest fly to Africa and India. Birds live up to twenty years.

The most famous species is the white stork. Birds have been living on Earth since ancient times, as evidenced by the finds of archaeologists. This species is considered practically dumb, since its vocal cords are completely undeveloped.

Storks are renowned for their endurance, as they are able to make very long flights.

The lifestyle and nutrition of the bird depends on the habitat. prefers low-lying areas with meadows and swamps. Sometimes they settle on the roofs of houses, making nests there. They feed on food of animal origin: lizards, frogs, insects, small mice. The stork is a beautiful and noble bird.

Swans

The swan is a white bird that conquered everyone with its beauty and greatness. A small group of famous birds includes 7 species. In general, swans belong to and their closest relatives are geese and geese.

Swans are the largest waterfowl wild birds... Weight reaches eight kilograms. Birds have a very long and flexible neck, and each species is characterized by its special setting. The paws of birds are rather short and equipped with special swimming membranes. On land, their gait seems to be very awkward. The coccygeal gland of birds gives off a special lubricant, thanks to which the feathers do not get wet in the water.

All swans have the same color - white, and only the black swan differs from them.

They live in the South and North America, Eurasia and Australia. They usually settle on the shores of reservoirs, and these can be small lakes, and huge bodies of water, like estuaries or bays.

All swans can be conditionally divided into southern and northern. The southern ones lead a sedentary life, while the northern ones have to fly away for the winter. Eurasian individuals winter in South and Central Asia, while American ones spend winter in California and Florida.

Birds usually live in pairs. They have a quiet and calm disposition. The voices of birds are quite sonorous, but they produce sounds extremely rarely, but the mute swan can only hiss in case of danger.

The birds use kidneys, seeds, roots of aquatic plants, grass and small aquatic invertebrates as food. They find food in the water, deeply immersing their heads. But birds do not know how to dive.

Hummingbird

We said that the African ostrich is the smallest. And the smallest is the bee hummingbird. This Cuban bird is not only the smallest in the world, but also the smallest warm-blooded creature on Earth. The male has a length of no more than five centimeters, and by weight is no heavier than two paper clips... But the females are slightly larger. The name itself suggests that these birds themselves are no larger than a bee.

The smallest bird is a very fast and strong creature. Shiny wings make her look like a gem. However, its multi-colored color is not always visible, it all depends on the viewing angle.

Despite its tiny size, the bird plays important role in plant propagation. It flies from flower to flower and collects nectar with its thin proboscis, while simultaneously transferring pollen from flower to flower. In one day, a little bee visits up to one and a half thousand flowers.

Hummingbirds build bowl-shaped nests for themselves no more than 2.5 centimeters in diameter. They are woven from bark, lichens and cobwebs. In them, the bird lays two small pea-sized eggs.

Forest birds

The place where you can appreciate the real variety of birds is in the forest. After all, it is home to many birds. At any time of the year, you can find an extraordinary number of them here. Here wild birds build their nests, find food for themselves and breed their chicks. Dense greenery reliably protects birds from enemies and bad weather. Walking through the forest, you can hear a variety of bird voices, we do not see them, but we hear their beautiful singing or the "cuckoo" familiar from childhood.

What kind of birds live in our forests? The world of birds in them is so rich that it is difficult to count all the species. Let's recall only the most famous ones: hazel grouses, woodpeckers, nutcrackers, swifts, owls, nightingales, black grouse, eagle owls, cuckoos, golden eagles, lentils, nutcrackers, beetles, flycatchers, tits, hawks, crossbills, siskins and many others. The birds of the forest have adapted to living in the forest thickets. Each of the species lives in certain areas of the country, in their characteristic places. An interesting fact is that absolutely all the birds of the forest get along on the same territory, and among them there are formidable predators, and completely harmless, and very small birds. Just an amazing combination.

Common kingfisher

The common kingfisher is a small bird with brightly colored feathers. The color of the plumage changes from a dark blue back to a bright orange abdomen. The kingfisher's beak is the most common: long and straight. Females are smaller than males. Birds settle along the coast of rivers and streams. In general, in those places where there is quiet, running water.

But nests are built on the steep banks among the thickets of bushes. Kingfishers do quite well in the mountains, sometimes settling there.

Birds unite in pairs only in mating season... On the territory of Russia - this is about the second half of April, just after returning from warm countries. Females and males pull out nests with their beaks, discarding the ground with their paws. The mink, as a rule, is located near water and is well camouflaged by branches.

It is surprising that the kingfishers return to their house for several seasons. There is no nest as such inside, eggs are laid directly on the ground. There is rarely any litter present. Usually the female lays five to seven eggs, and sometimes ten. The female and the male incubate in turn, replacing each other.

Kingfishers include both migratory and sedentary populations. They are widespread in Eurasia, Indonesia and north-west Africa, in New Zealand.

Kingfishers settle only near clean water bodies, so they can be used to judge their degree of purity.

On the example of these birds, one can judge their diversity. They all differ from each other not only outwardly, but also in their way of life and habits, nevertheless, they all belong to the same suborder.

Ecological group of bird class

Distinguish the following ecological group of birds: swimmers, divers, air and water birds, birds of the forest, birds of prey and open spaces, each group is described in more detail in the table below.

Environmental group	Features of the body structure, flight	What they eat, type of beak	Representatives
Swimmer birds	The body is wide, rolling, widely spaced limbs with well-developed membranes	Food - worms, molluscs, crustaceans, insects, algae. Filter beak	Geese, ducks, swans
Diving birds	The body is flattened from the sides, the center of gravity is shifted back, the wings are small, the flight is heavy, non-maneuverable	Food - fish, bottom animals. Saw beak	Cormorant, chom-ga, zimoro-dock, loon, penguin
Water-air birds	Soaring or flapping flight, legs without swimming pads, some can dive from flight	Food - fish, insects, mice, lizards, frogs, etc.	Seagulls, terns, albat-ros
Wetland birds	Long legs are well developed, toes without membranes (this makes walking in swampy places easier)	1) food-frogs, snakes, fish; beak is long, sharp; 2) food - small invertebrates; probing beak (long and thin); food - small crustaceans; filter beak	1) herons, crane-whether 3) flamingos
Birds of the forest	Small to medium size, strong beak, not very good fly	Food - insects	Spotted dya-tel, black woodpecker (yellow), black grouse, etc.
Predator birds	Strong bent beak, sharp claws, sharp eyesight, fly fast (glide, dive, etc.)	Most are fed by vertebrates	Vultures, eagles, owls
Birds of open spaces	Long legs and neck	Food - insects	Cranes, bustards, ostriches

The value of birds in nature and human life

Inhabiting a variety of habitats, birds are inextricably linked with the life of biological communities. Birds are characterized by an intense metabolism. In supporting it, they consume large amounts of both plant and animal feed. The significance of birds for humans is largely determined by their role in nature.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BIRDS

In nature

For man

1. Restrict plant growth.

2. Promote pollination of flowering plants.

3. Promote the spread of fruits and seeds.

4. Limit the number of other animals (invertebrates, rodents, etc.)

5. Serve as food for other animals (birds, reptiles, mammals)

1. Commercial and poultry supply meat, eggs, down

2. Insectivorous and birds of prey destroy pests of agriculture and forestry

3. Poultry manure is a valuable organic fertilizer

4. Aesthetic and scientific value

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Sourse of information: Biology in tables and diagrams. / Edition 2e, - SPb .: 2004.

In the course of evolution, a large number of various forms have developed among birds, adapted to life in a variety of conditions. Some birds inhabited forests and shrubs, where they developed an appropriate paw arrangement for life among the branches. Other forms adapted to life on the water, and their further development followed the path of specialization in swimming and diving. Some forms have mastered the air environment to a greater extent than others and spend most of their lives on wings, revealing various adaptations in the structure of the wing, ensuring the soaring flight of large predators, the rapid active flight of swifts and swallows. The steppes and deserts are inhabited by a number of species that have adapted to walking and running on solid ground.

Based on the preferred types of landscapes and the characteristics of movement, the following are distinguished main ecological groups of birds: arboreal-shrubby, terrestrial-arboreal, terrestrial, semi-aquatic, aquatic, hunting on the fly ... It should be noted that, as with any other attempts at biological classifications, a fairly large number of species occupies, as it were, an intermediate position and their assignment to one or another group turns out to be rather arbitrary, therefore the boundaries between the identified groups are indistinct and rather arbitrary.

Arboreal and shrub birds. They feed mainly in the crowns of trees and bushes, in thickets of reeds and other emergent plants, where they nest. Nests of varying degrees of difficulty, in some species very skillfully woven, warm and durable; some species nest in hollows. The main mass of species of this group is made up of various families of passerine birds, oriole, some corvids, titmice, warblers and many others. This also includes cuckoo and woodpeckers.

Collecting food, the birds jump from branch to branch, sometimes helping by flapping their wings. Small birds of this group, clinging to the irregularities of the bark with strong fingers with sharp claws, they can move along the vertical trunks of trees (titmouse, nuthatch, pikas). In real woodpeckers, the structure of the paws changes: two fingers are directed forward, two - back; all fingers bear powerful, strongly curved, sharp claws that securely cling to any irregularities in the bark. The tail, made of strong rigid tail feathers, nestles against the trunk and serves as an additional fulcrum. These features allow woodpeckers not only to move along vertical trunks, but also to gouge.

The species of this group feed on various insects and other invertebrates, fruits, berries and seeds, some species eat the buds, anthers of flowers, and drink nectar. Some of the larger species (corvids, woodpeckers) simultaneously eat eggs and chicks of other birds. The shape of the beak and tongue corresponds to the nature of food specialization. In predominantly insectivorous species, an elongated thin beak allows (like with tweezers) to pull out prey from cracks in the bark, from the axils of the leaves. Flycatchers, shrike and others often lie in wait for prey, calmly sitting on a twig and, taking off, catch an insect that has flown close. Such fishing is facilitated by a slightly widened, flattened beak (flycatchers). Seed-eating species with a strong conical beak are capable of splitting or gnawing the dense shells of seeds (grosbeak gnaws at the bones of cherries and olives). With the sharp, strongly crossed ends of the powerful beak, the crossbills deftly open the scales of cones of coniferous trees, taking out the seeds; the sharp keratinizing end of the tongue cuts off the wings of the seeds.

Woodpeckers with a powerful chisel-shaped beak hammer bark and wood, opening the passages of Insects and their larvae. The long tongue can protrude from the mouth almost the length of the beak, has spines directed backward at the end and is covered with sticky saliva. The woodpecker inserts its tongue into the opened passage and pulls out its prey with its tongue.

Terrestrial and arboreal birds. They are close to the first group in appearance and differ only in that they are equally successful in collecting food both in the crowns and on the ground. Some species build nests in the crowns of trees and shrubs, nest in hollows, or arrange a nest on the ground.

This includes some of the black grouse (capercaillie, black grouse, hazel grouse), many corvids, blackbirds, wrens, starlings, many weavers, finches, buntings. In this group, there are both insectivorous species and omnivores, feeding on various invertebrates (and some, for example, corvids, and vertebrates), berries, seeds, and vegetative parts of plants. Variations in beak structure correspond to food specialization and are similar to many beak variations in the first group. In the crowns, they jump from branch to branch, on the ground small species usually move in jumps, and larger ones (grouse, pigeons, parrots) - in steps. Species of similar sizes can also differ in gait: for example, blackbirds and magpies jump on the ground, and starlings, jackdaws, rooks, crows walk. Some species, looking for food, rake the upper layer of litter (black grouse, blackbirds).

Land birds . A team group that brings together birds with varying degrees of adaptation to the terrestrial lifestyle. Quite a few species retain the appearance of arboreal-shrub or terrestrial-arboreal birds, but they feed almost only on the ground where they build a nest, however, for rest and in case of danger, they willingly sit on trees and bushes. The terrestrial way of life of these species is provided, first of all, by the peculiarities of behavior.

Morphological adaptations are not clearly expressed: usually the claws are somewhat less curved, the strong hind limbs of many species make it possible to rake the litter in search of food, some species develop a protective coloration. They walk and run on the ground, not jump. They feed on various insects and other invertebrates, collecting them on the ground and grass (jumping up and down, some catch flying insects), eat seeds and berries. These species include some passerines (larks, skates, wagtails, chisels), hoopoe. More distinct adaptations to the terrestrial lifestyle are characteristic of most chickens. The strong hind limbs in these species are relatively short. Strong short fingers end in blunt claws; the hind (first) toe is usually small or completely reduced. All these land birds walk and run well. In case of danger, they run away or fly away; many species are lurking. Food is mainly vegetable (vegetative parts of plants, seeds, berries, tubers), but willingly, and sometimes in large quantities, they eat a variety of invertebrates and small lizards. Beaks in all species are strong, of varying length, usually with a pointed end, ensuring the capture of both animal and plant food.

This also includes a number of long-legged species that resemble near-water birds in appearance: some cranes (Demoiselle crane) and the secretary bird from the daytime birds of prey. Elongated limbs (especially tarsus and tibia) with strong toes allow these birds to easily run on tall grass, chasing reptiles (lizards, snakes) and large insects. The prey is seized with its beak (cranes) or with its paws (secretary), then killing it with its beak.

About aquatic birds. They inhabit a variety of damp habitats: overgrown and open shores of reservoirs, vast swamps. This includes all ankles, or storks, many cranes and charadriiformes.

Most species of this group are characterized by elongated limbs (the tarsus and tibia are lengthened, the lower part of the latter is usually not feathered) with long thin toes (all four in herons, many shepherdesses, in the rest the hind toe is small or absent), sometimes at the base connected by a rudimentary swimming membrane ... This makes it possible to walk and run on dense grass and in shallow waters, without wetting the plumage and without falling into the muddy muddy ground; some species (small shepherds) run easily on floating aquatic vegetation. As a rule, the lengthening of the limbs is accompanied by the lengthening of the neck: the bird reaches the ground with its beak, only slightly tilting the body. In some species, the body is distinctly compressed from the sides, allowing it to slip between the stems in dense thickets. A casually built nest is located on the ground, on reed creases, sometimes in trees (egrets, storks, ibises).

A very wide range of food in this group is provided by various adaptations. Cranes feed mainly on a variety of plant foods (seedlings, rhizomes and bulbs, young shoots, seeds, berries), along the way they catch (sometimes in large quantities) various invertebrates, amphibians, lizards. They have a strong, elongated beak with a pointed top. Some shepherds also use vegetable food; these species have a powerful, relatively short beak. The rest of the species of semiaquatic birds are predominantly animal-eating. Herons and storks consume a variety of animal food (invertebrates, fish, amphibians).

Aquatic birds. A very diverse group of birds, swimming and diving for food; some feed on land. They inhabit the coasts of the seas and various continental bodies of water. These include toadstools, goose, or lamellar-billed, some shepherd (coots).

In species of this group, the body is usually flattened in the dorsal-abdominal direction, which provides greater stability in the water. The plumage is tight-fitting, successfully resists wetting. Well-developed down and down portions of the fan contour feathers improve thermal insulation; this is also facilitated by the strong development of subcutaneous fat deposits. All this allows

swimming and diving in cold water for a long time. The hind legs are relatively short; the forward-pointing three fingers are connected by a well-developed swimming membrane. Only in grebes, shepherds (coots) and waders-phalaropes, the swimming membrane does not form, but each of the three forward-facing toes is equipped with elastic and strong horny edges, which also noticeably increase the rowing surface of the paw. In well-diving species, the sternum usually lengthens and the number of ribs increases (better protection of the internal organs from external pressure), the pelvis narrows, and in some good divers, the legs shift back (toadstools).

Aquatic birds usually nest near water bodies, more often on the ground, less often on reed creases and trees. Toadstools and coots build floating nests in the thickets of emerging vegetation.

The vast majority of species of this group are animal-eating: they feed on fish and various aquatic invertebrates. Swimming waders peck various small invertebrates from the surface of water and leaves of emerging plants with a thin tweezers beak. Coots of moderate length, feeding mainly on plant food, have a strong beak that makes it possible to tear off pieces of plants and seize aquatic animals. In Anseriformes, at the end of the widened beak, a thickened area is well developed - the marigold, which forms a small hook; horny plates along the edges of the beak and mandible and on the sides of the fleshy tongue form a filter apparatus that releases water and silt, but retains food objects in the oral cavity: various small animals and seeds. A strong marigold allows you to tear off attached mollusks, parts of plants, etc. In ducks that feed on small animals, especially in broad-nosed, the plates of the filter apparatus are thin, long, very densely set. In eiders, feeding mainly on relatively large attached molluscs, and geese, feeding largely on land with terrestrial plants, a strong marigold at the end of the beak and coarse, more rarely sitting plates along its edges make it easy to tear off and crush mollusk shells, to pinch fresh greens. In mergansers, these plates turn into denticles, making it easier to hold the fish.

Among the passerine birds, dippers should be included in this group. They feed on insects, their larvae and other invertebrates, collecting them on the banks and at the bottom of rivers and streams, and retain the typical appearance of passerines (only the plumage is somewhat denser, dense fluff is developed on apterias, wings and especially the tail are short). They cannot dive in stagnant water.

Birds hunting on the fly. A heterogeneous and diverse group, including members of many families, close relatives of which are included in the previously described groups. More common in open landscapes.

Quite a few species of this group are associated with water. These are birds with long, narrow peaked wings, possessing maneuverable flight and usually capable of long hovering. The fingers are connected by a swimming membrane. They rest on the water or on the shore. The most common way of hunting is flying at different heights above the water and diving swiftly for prey (fish, large invertebrates) seen on the surface or in the upper layer of the water. Due to the energy of the dive, birds can plunge into the water, seizing prey with their beak at this moment. This is how gulls, terns and phalaropes hunt. Seagulls often gather food by wandering in shallow waters and on land.

Many birds of prey (eagles, buzzards, kites) soar high in the air for hours, looking for prey, and then catch up with an active flight, dive and seize on the ground (and birds and air). Unlike birds hunting above water, their wings are somewhat shorter, but noticeably wider, with a blunt top. The prey is seized by powerful paws armed with sharp claws, killed and torn apart by a strong beak with a sharp hook at the end. The osprey and many eagles feed mainly on large fish: they hover over water bodies and, diving, grab the prey that has risen to the surface with their paws.

Hawks use two methods of hunting: the predator sits in a shelter and suddenly rushes at the approaching prey, or flies more often along the edges, and seizes the scared prey in a quick throw. They are characterized by relatively short wings and long tail allowing to pursue the victim among the branches. Falcons possessing a swift maneuvering flight usually fly around their hunting area and in a swift dive - dive - they seize the encountered prey in the air or on the ground. When looking out for prey on the ground, small falcons are able to hang in the air for a short time in fluttering flight. In addition to the main method of hunting - looking out for prey in flight and grabbing it on the fly - many predators catch large insects, wandering on the ground, watching over rodent holes and dragging chicks from their nests.

Owls look for their prey in flight or lie in wait while sitting in ambush, and catch in a short throw, grabbing the victim with their paws. Unlike diurnal birds of prey, the main receptor for detecting and seizing prey in owls is not sight, but hearing. Goat-like, like owls, lead the twilight and night image life; They feed mainly on large insects, which they catch in the air or, less often, peck branches from the ground on the fly. They also have a quiet, maneuverable flight, the plumage is soft, although not to the same extent as that of owls. Long sharp wings, rapid maneuvering flight, a small beak, but a very wide opening of the mouth, in the corners bordered by rigid bristles, are the features of swifts and swallows ecologically close to them. Swallows catch prey only in flight; they do not use other methods of hunting. They feed on small insects. Swallows are able to peck up sitting insects from branches and leaves on the fly. Only in flight are they catching large flying insects, bee-eaters. Fairly long, thinning towards the end, slightly curved downward beak, no long bristles in the corners
mouth - these features of bee-eaters are associated with the larger size of their prey compared to the food items of swallows and swifts.

This classification is schematic, but it gives a fairly complete picture of the ecological diversity of the class of birds. They have mastered almost all niches suitable for life: only sea depths over 50-60 m and the soil thickness remain inaccessible to them (although certain types dig nesting holes).

Within each ecological group, a wide variety is revealed in biotopic confinement, in nesting sites and types of nests, in the sets of forages used and methods of obtaining them, correlating with many species characteristics - the proportions of limbs and the nature of movement, plumage properties, the shape of the beak and tongue, and structural details. digestive system, the structure of receptors, etc.

Despite the obvious ecological diversity, the general appearance of birds, as well as their morphophysiological features, varies within relatively small limits. The variety of appearance, size and morphophysiological features among mammals is much more pronounced. This large, in comparison with mammals, morphophysiological homogeneity of birds, apparently, is due to adaptation to flight, which created severe restrictions on variations in body shape and its functioning systems.

Trophic groups of birds

The range of food for the class of birds is quite wide and includes a variety of plant and animal food. The variety of bird feeds used is usually divided into three groups: polyphages, stenophages and intermediate.

Polyphages (omnivores) feed on a wide variety of plant and animal feed. This group includes about 1/3 of families, and within each family, omnivorousness is more pronounced in larger species. An example of the most typical polyphagous birds can be large corvids (crows, crows, etc.), large gulls, and cranes.

Stenophages - species consuming uniform food and using uniform methods of catching prey. Stenophagy is relatively rare among birds. Swifts and many nightjars, feeding only on flying insects, and swallows, which also catch insects in the air, but can also peck them on the fly from plants, should be attributed to stenophages. This group also includes typical scavengers, as well as species that feed only on large fish, such as osprey. Crossbills, feeding mainly on seeds of coniferous trees, also belong to stenophages.

Intermediate group makes up the majority of birds that use a fairly wide range of feeds for feeding. These are the many passerines that feed on both various insects and seeds. Toadstools feed on fish and various large aquatic invertebrates; green parts of plants, berries, seeds and various invertebrates - chickens.

The degree of food variety in different types expressed unequally. For example, in loons and cormorants, aquatic invertebrates are usually only a small addition to the fish diet, while in many grebes they may even be the predominant food group.

A number of ecological groups are also distinguished by the composition of food in the class of birds. Species that feed mainly on plant foods are called Phytophages . Geese, swans, some ducks, coots feed mainly on a variety of coastal and aquatic vegetation, simultaneously eating various aquatic animals. Green parts of plants, berries, seeds, buds, catkins are the basis for the nutrition of chickens. Most of the seeds feed on many passerines - weavers, finches (especially crossbills, grosbeaks, greenfinches), larks. However, all phytophages, if possible, use a variety of animal feeds to some extent; their consumption especially increases during the breeding season, since most of these birds feed their chicks mainly with animal feed.

Species that feed mainly on animal food are called Zoophagous . Although many of them, albeit to a small extent, eat plant foods. Almost a third of living bird families are exclusively or predominantly insectivorous (entomophages ); almost all birds use insects to one degree or another. Many aquatic and semi-aquatic species feed primarily on fish (ichthyophages), along the way, eating aquatic invertebrates.

Many birds of prey and owls belong to Myophages, that is, they feed mainly on small rodents. Few birds of prey can be called ornithophagous : hawks, falcons (peregrine falcon), marsh harrier and some others feed mainly on birds.

TO herpetophages (feed on amphibians and reptiles) include the snake-eagle, the secretary bird, and some large kingfishers. However, such a division by types of food is largely arbitrary and schematic.

The change in diet is typical for all groups. Typical ornithophages, for example, catch mammals, lizards and large insects on occasion.

Due to the seasonality of the appearance of different types of food in many bird species, seasonal changes in nutrition are observed. The degree of variability is determined by the nature of the food specialization.

Quite sharp differences in the quantity and degree of availability of different groups of food in different years determine the change in the dietary spectrum of many birds from year to year. There are many examples of such seasonal, geographic and annual variations in nutrition. It is well expressed even in stenophagous birds. For birds, the opposite feature is also characteristic - when a massive, easily accessible food appears, species that usually do not use it begin to feed on it. When puddles and small lakes dry up on the mud, mollusks, tadpoles and fish fry are picked up not only by crows and magpies, but also by pigeons, blackbirds, and shrikes. The number of birds sharply increases in places of mass reproduction of insects or murine rodents, in gardens when cherries ripen, on plantations when berries ripen. This ability to quickly find accumulations of food and use them determines the participation of birds in limiting and eliminating foci of pests.

In almost all birds, age-related changes in feed are expressed to one degree or another. In mature hatching chicks that feed on their own (Anseriformes, Galliformes, many waders), this age-related change of feed is primarily due to the fact that, due to their small size and poorly developed methods of foraging, part of the feed obtained by adults is simply inaccessible to the chicks. As the chicks grow, these dietary differences gradually disappear.

Immature hatching chicks eat what their parents bring them. In many species, age-related variability in feeding is well expressed, due to the selective delivery of food by adult birds, which undoubtedly significantly accelerates growth and increases the survival rate of chicks. Thus, great tits try to carry spiders to newly hatched chicks, and sometimes only their “contents” are squeezed into the open beak of the chick, and the “shell” is swallowed by themselves. After two or three days, parents begin to carry small larvae, caterpillars, butterflies with torn wings, aphids and other soft insects to the chicks, and more often they feed the already grown, fledging chicks with beetles. Adult birds themselves eat at this time any insects available to them. Other passerines do the same.

Methods for obtaining food

The methods of obtaining food from birds are not very diverse. The vast majority of species take prey with their beak. In accordance with food specialization, the shape and relative size of the beak vary within wide limits. Straight or curved, very long and slender beaks of waders and some passerines allow foraging from wet soil or narrow and deep shelters. The sharply conical beaks of many granivorous birds, which are powerful at the base, facilitate the grasping and gnawing of seeds. Powerful beaks of birds of prey, owls, partly shrikes, with a sharp "hook" varying in length on the beak, help to hold and tear food; beaks with numerous plates along the edges, which allow filtering small prey, are characteristic of anseriformes. Small beaks with a very large opening of the mouth and bristles in its corners form a kind of "net" in swifts, nightjars and swallows, which makes it easier to catch small flying insects.

No less varied is the shape of the tongue, which in many birds not only helps in swallowing the food lump, but also participates in the seizure and retention of prey. So, the strongly protruding tongue of woodpeckers, usually equipped with sharp thorns at the end, allows you to find the larva in the hollowed out course and pull it out. The fleshy, movable tongue of many Passeriformes, along with the ridges on the palate, allows a seed or nut to be conveniently placed on the edge of the beak to crack the shell. In birds, fishing and various aquatic invertebrates, on the tongue there are numerous sharp spines directed towards the pharynx, facilitating the holding and swallowing of prey (grebes, mergansers). the fleshy and mobile tongue of the anseriformes, bordered with plates, participates in the filtration of food.

Daytime predators and owls grab prey, especially large ones, with their paws. Depending on the food specialization, I vary the shape and length of the claws, the mobility of the fingers, the nature of the stratum corneum on the soles of the toes (for example, the development of sharp horny spines in the osprey). Some birds, when pecking at prey, support it with their paws (tits, some corvids). Nuthatches - nuts, and woodpeckers - nuts and cones are thrust into cracks and, thus strengthening them, peck. Shrikes prick large prey on dry sharp knots, and then peck and tear.

Sometimes crows and large seagulls, seizing hard prey (toothless, crabs, etc.), take off and then throw the prey to the ground; this technique is repeated many times until the shell or carapace cracks. Perhaps, some birds of prey do this with turtles (vulture) or with large bones (bearded man). The use of a woodpecker finch by birds is also described, holding a cactus needle or a dry twig in its beak by one end, picking it in cracks in the bark, driving the insect out and then grabbing it with its beak. Flying from tree to tree, the finch sometimes drags a thorn behind it.

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