Winter is, of course, a beautiful time of the year. But nature becomes even more elegant when our winter guests - red-breasted handsome bullfinches - appear on trees covered with snow! Males are birds with a scarlet breast, whose back is bluish-gray, and the head is black. Females look more modest. Let's find out where bullfinches winter, what they eat and how they generally live.
Days are snowy …
Usually these birds keep not in large flocks (about ten individuals in each). This sounds paradoxical, but the stronger the frosts, the more calm the flocks. They are almost motionless, only sometimes they come to life for the sake of some frozen berry or bud on a tree, after which they freeze again, sitting motionless for some time on the trees. So the Snegiryev days pass … When the darkness comes, the flock hides in the bushes or tree branches for an overnight stay.
One for all, and all for one!
Bullfinches are sociable, rather gullible and friendly birds. They will never leave their relative in trouble. If any bird from their flock suddenly fell into a trap, the rest rush to her aid!
Family life …
When March comes, bullfinches, the photo of which is presented below, fly to the nests in pairs. In April, the female hurries to build a nest. It looks like this: loosely folded twigs, lichen roots and wool form a free structure. She usually lays about five eggs. While the female incubates them, the male feeds her and protects her from any troubles. Just a month after birth, the chicks boldly leave the nest. And now let's figure out what is eatable in those places where bullfinches hibernate?
Dinner is served!
Of course, Mother Winter is not famous for her bounties regarding provisions. Therefore, the birds have to eat monotonous food. Where bullfinches winter, the choice of "menu" is usually not very large. But even despite this, the feed range of especially active individuals can be quite wide! This is due to the constant search for food. If you watch the same active bullfinch all day, then we will get tired of doing it, because the places of its feeding are the most diverse! In general, bullfinches are grain-eating birds that feed on tree seeds, their buds, and berries. With their thick beaks, they select only seeds of berries, and throw out the flesh! Do not mind they taste nuts. They love mountain ash very much. Its fruits attract not only these birds, but also many other forest inhabitants, including mammals. Having eaten the mountain ash, these birds begin to clean the beak, since the seeds of its berries constantly stick to it. The funniest thing is that while peeling the beak, rowan seeds fall to the ground, germinating in the spring. So bullfinches are also useful "gardeners"!
Habitat
These birds are widespread in almost all of Europe, except for the most southern and northern regions, as well as in Asia (north of the Himalayas and to Japan). Where the climate is more or less temperate, birds live either constantly or fly over, but not very far from their nesting places. The south, where bullfinches with a northern character winter, is the most heavenly place for these birds. They settle among mixed species rich in branched bushes, as well as in coniferous forests and mountains. Although some individuals prefer ordinary dense vegetation located along ordinary streams.
