Classification
Type: Chordates
Class: birds
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Flycatcher
Rod: Zaryanka
Type: Zaryanka
Size: length reaches 14-16 cm. Span wings up to 22 cm
Weight: 16 to 22 g
Life expectancy: average up to 5 years
The robin is also popularly called zaryanka. This is a small bird which is not so difficult to meet. Although she prefers settle in the forests, but quite often appears in the gardens, vegetable gardens, parks.
The bird is very fast, practically does not sit in place, flutters in dense foliage in search of the insects that it feeds on. Watch for it is extremely interesting, because you can learn a lot of unusual things about life red-breasted singer.
Robin close-up
Content
- 1 Habitat
- 2 Characteristic
- 3 Appearance
- 4 Key Features
- 5 Nutrition
- 6 Behavior, reproduction
- 7 Relationship with people
Habitat
Hives are widespread in Russia everywhere. They can be seen and in the northern regions, and in the central part of the country, among birds of the Moscow region, and even in Siberia.
Robins are found in Africa, Asia, but, for example, in Australia and America do not live. Once they even tried to specifically bring there, but the birds did not take root.
In the 20th century, attempts to spread birds repeated. IN this time Oregon was chosen as the home for robins British Columbia, but even then the attempt was not successful.
For a bird colony to flourish and grow, it needs mixed or deciduous forest with a very dense undergrowth. If a the robin settles in gardens or parks, it selects exclusively those where there are many bushes. In their branches, a bird and displays offspring.
Interesting! There is an opinion that its name “Robin” received not only because of the characteristic color of the breast, but and for love, make nests in raspberry thickets (not surprisingly, but black grouse, like zanyanki, also deliberately nests near berry bushes). It is there that summer residents most often detect egg clutches. They called Zaryanka because, having started singing at dawn, continues until dusk. And a little having a rest, together with blackbirds welcomes a new day.
In different regions, these birds lead a different lifestyle. In the south – Settled, do not make long-distance flights for the winter. In the north – wander like swallows but return in spring one of the very first.
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Interesting! Robins, the birthplace of which became northern regions, in size noticeably larger than their southern counterparts. In addition, their plumage is brighter.
Birds never nest in alien places for them. Even making sufficiently long flights to warmer regions, they anyway, in the early spring they always return to where born to raise chicks.
Interesting! Since the 60s of the 20th Century bird robin recognized (true, unofficially) national bird of Great Britain. In this country, a bird associated with the advent of Christmas. To this day on traditional postcards you can see the dawn.
Adult zaryanka preparing for flight
Characteristic
Small but graceful birds are bright red or orange breast and gray-green or gray back with an admixture blue on the sides. The dimensions are small – the body length is not more than 14-16 cm.
The length of the wings and tail reaches about 7 cm. And the weight of the robin ranges from 16 to 22 grams.
In the photo, the zaryanka looks very lively, mobile, it is the same is in life. The bird moves in short jumps, more often even by flights.
Prefers to hide among dense grass, in bushes. She constantly on the move: catches flies, searches for material for a nest, studies space.
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Robins are not at all afraid of people, or rather, they do not turn them no attention. Often you can notice such a picture in the country: gardeners delve into the ground, and nearby a red-chested bird waiting when a tasty worm appears.
Zaryanka with prey – the larva of a nutcracker beetle (wireworm)
Birds are active mainly in the afternoon, but they begin to sing early in the morning until the onset of heat or in the evening until dark. Robin song considered one of the most beautiful: very melodic, with chirping and trill.
Like most birds, the male is a skillful singer, although females also participate in concerts. However, the variety of sounds they have poorer.
Male robins are extremely aggressive. They are zealously protect not only the female, but also their own territory.
Fighting is common among male zaryanoks, including those with the death of one of the rivals. That is why the birds kept apart from each other, live in families, not colonies.
It is interesting! Due to pronounced aggressiveness in relations of each other and frequent fights, in adulthood up to 10% of male robins die (of the total young animals in a certain area).
In total, 8 subspecies of zaryanka are known, which differ by more dark or light colored feathers. But the most common ordinary and Japanese robins. The latter is different red-brown color of the upper body.
Male Zaryanki chases a blue tit from a feeding trough
Some birds can settle in parks, like swifts, or even in the forest belts of big cities, not far from high-rise buildings. It imposes a certain a touch on their behavior.
Robins are easily baffled by city lights, in particular, lanterns on roads and windows of apartments where lamps are on. IN in such cases, the breadwinners continue their songs well past midnight, focusing on non-dimming light sources.
Appearance
To remember what a robin looks like, just see it just once: a graceful small body with a bright spot, enough long legs and a small beak of dark gray or black color. Paws brown.
Interesting! The robin’s physique is very resembles a nightingale, with the exception of the tail – in robins it is straight, and in nightingales – rounded.
Robin is a small bird that fits easily in two palms not only that of an adult, but even a child. On the picture zaryanka clearly visible its bright, extraordinary color.
If you make a detailed description of the appearance, then it will be as follows. The plumage of the upper part of the head, back and wings has greenish-gray color, imperceptible in dense foliage. But in front, from the forehead to the breast and on the cheeks the feathers are painted in a bright, red-raspberry the color that gave the name to the species. The abdomen is white.
Robin, in which all the characteristic features are clearly visible plumage
Like most other birds, in the male, the colors of the plumage look brighter and richer, females are more faded. But both equally long-legged, moving fast on grass and ground jumping, they sing beautifully, even though the females are not so skilled in twittering.
Birds have a small, short, sharp beak. It’s perfect a tool for catching various small insects and even snails, which are also included in the extensive diet of feathered predators.
There are long claws on the legs, robins use them when it is necessary to catch and hold firmly on the branch. The tail is flat medium sized. The whole structure is generally proportional and harmoniously.
The color of these birds does not depend on gender: like females, so the males have the same bright spot on the chest of an orange or reddish color and approximately the same color scheme of the back and wings. The only difference between a female and a male in size: females somewhat less.
Key Features
Zaryanka is much easier to see in the photo than in life. And it’s not about that she leads a secretive lifestyle (though, and there is some truth is), but in the fact that it is extremely mobile.
The very first description of this species belongs to Linnaeus. Also in XVII century, in his famous work among biologists, “System of Nature” the scientist classified the zanyanka, having examined all its habits.
It is interesting! Scientific Name – Motacilla rubecula, includes species name and generic epithet (rubecula), which translates into Russian roughly as “red”.
The birds live on average about 5 years, although they can be up to 12. But among very young mortality is very high, primarily because of aggression in relation to each other. In general, there is an opinion among ornithologists, that if the robin chick lived the first year, then he has a high chance die already at the venerable 10-year-old (and older) age.
No description is complete without a story about how this bird sings. It’s a pleasure to listen to the robin, it’s not for nothing that they consider it a little perhaps not the most skillful singer! The bird begins to draw trills with the onset of the morning dawn, during the day she is silent, and with the sunset joins the general choir again.
The song immediately stands out for its incredible purity of sound, it skillfully interspersed with a high whistle and melodious twittering.
In early spring, characteristic sounds can be heard almost all day and night, but closer to summer robins delight their lovers trills only in the evening and in the morning.
Zaryanka male performs a song
Food
Zaryanka is a bird, first of all, an insectivore, because for food she consumes various flies, midges, worms, millipedes, bugs, and sometimes even mollusks.
The main diet of these birds are insects and fruits. Often there were cases when robins guard farmers, gardeners and after they start digging or loosening the earth, pulls food right under his feet.
Among insects, birds prefer:
- Zhukov;
- bedbugs;
- ground beetles;
- larvae;
- small clams;
- spiders
- millipedes;
- worms.
Important! If you want to lure zanyanka, it is best to put the grains not in the hanging feeders, but on the ground. These birds are not used to eating in feeders, but will be with the pleasure of picking food from the ground.
From berries, elderberry, mountain ash, blackberry and currant are selected. Although there are frequent cases when robins do not disdain fruit, seeds and cereals.
In spring and winter, birds readily eat from human hands, without fear and without fear. Also, they will not refuse and those mixtures that people put in feeders: seeds, millet, bread and etc.
Robin takes food from human hands
It is interesting! Robins never refuse fresh berries, which sometimes even damage the country to the crop. They especially love blackberries, currants, mountain ash and elderberries. Already closer to the autumn months, animal food in the diet of birds is inferior the place is vegetable.
But red-breasted birds are not considered pests of rural if only because they are very willing to eat numerous caterpillars and snails that are so dangerous for young plants.
But most importantly, the favorite dainty of zaryanok, like Jays – delicious ant eggs. Just one the family of these birds, settled in a summer cottage, may summer season destroy all ants. That is why experienced gardeners try to attract robins by feeding them.
In the winter, berries become the main food for the cheesecakes. mountain ash
Behavior, reproduction
In those regions where the robin is a migratory bird, it turns out to be one of the very first spring guests. These birds very faithful to their home: they always come back from warm places to where they were born.
Even in winter, closer to Christmas, you can hear the singing of these birds
The males are the first to arrive. Their task is to find a convenient place for nesting and conquer the territory in which the family will live and hunt.
As mentioned above, this is a very serious task, often ending sadly for a weaker opponent. Females come back a little later, and together the couple begins to build a nest.
Robins prefer to settle in the grass, in low shrubs closer to the ground. Very often their small nests found in piles of boards, even in woodpiles.
Bushes of currants, gooseberries, raspberries – all these are favorite places at zaryanok. The main building material is last year’s grass, its entwined with moss and dry leaves.
For warming and as a soft litter, birds can use tow, fluff, sometimes even cotton wool. The nest is small in sizes: about 5 cm high, 7-8 cm in diameter.
Zaryanka’s nest is very neat
After the nest is built, the female lays about 5-7 testicles. Eggs are small, about one and a half centimeters long. Colour – yellowish, with red specks scattered across the shell.
Chicks are born in a fortnight. Absolutely helpless, with black bare skin and constantly open mouths, they not at all like those handsome men who will become later.
The nestlings are in the nest for 15 days, then fly out. But they are not in a hurry to move away from their parents, now and then asking them food. By the way, kids are very voracious. In the first weeks of life they can easily eat about 4m worms per day.
It is interesting. Often, robins become receptions parents for cuckoo chicks that too affects their numbers.
Only a few days old baby birds
Robins can hatch twice during the summer season, and when good luck and three times. Departed babies (nets) not at all like adult birds: their plumage is colorful, without characteristic red tint.
Zaryanka chicks prefer to live in the grass, although it’s already not bad are flying. Parents are always nearby so that in case of danger to warn offspring.
The thing is that at an early age robins are extremely trusting, they are interested in everything, and they are not yet experienced enough to to be afraid of something. Often, chicks even bind to those who come to forest by mushrooms or berries by people.
The hardest year for the chicks is the first. It is during this period infant mortality is highest, including because of constant fights. But if they survive, they can live to old age and natural death.
Zaryanka zaryanka, which has not yet taken on an adult coloring. Chicks have not as bright as their parents. It is kinda certain a disguise that easily hides offspring among branches and thickets
Relationship with people
People are not afraid of dumplings at all. In winter, they can easily fly in take food from your hand. Always accompany summer residents during processing land to catch dug worms or larvae.
In captivity, keeping a bird is also possible. The bird will even sing if properly maintained.
Care is simple, but has some features. For example, robins love swimming, constantly splashing around in a special bath, so they are advised to change the water at least twice in a day.
The bird will not only joyfully swim, but also preen, cleaning each feather. This procedure is very curious to watch.
Interesting! In the first days after after the bird is caught, its behavior in the cage will be hectic. To calm it down a little, it is recommended to darken the cell cloth
Zaryanka is a very friendly bird.
In addition, it is necessary to monitor the correct composition received by the robin of food. Otherwise, so unusual the pet may fall ill, stop singing, or even die.
It is important to remember that the main component of nutrition is living insects, so ornithologists advise adding different worms, bugs, etc. This is especially necessary in the spring singing season.
Getting the right food in sufficient quantity, a robin with Twitter will be a pleasure, even when in captivity. By the way adult birds caught in nature.
Important! Do not put in one cage several males of these birds. They will fight until until she dies from them. Best content option – in pairs.
In general, the zaryanka is quite unpretentious to the conditions of detention. As a house, a medium-sized cage will suit her.
In the colder months, it is not recommended to keep the cage close to windows, because zaryanoks are very sensitive to hypothermia.
Zaryanka itself is a very interesting, amazing bird with unique habits. She is loved by gardeners for their invaluable benefits. in the fight against harmful insects.
Lovers of bird singing respect the robin for its unique melodic trills and beautiful twitter. Many people are attracted to her bright coloring and cheerful, trusting disposition.
Probably, thanks to all these qualities, the red-breasted feathered beauty always becomes a welcome guest, meeting with whom especially pleasant!
Robin: Bright red spot in the forest.
A robin can be found in the summer in the forest, and sometimes in gardens. She attracts with its bright coloring and beautiful, melodious twittering. Zaryanka is not afraid of man, but still her habits are not known to each.
