Bullfinch (lat. Pyrrhula pyrrhula) is a well-known bird that lives in the forests of northern Europe, East Asia, Siberia and Kamchatka. In an urban environment, taiga guests are less common, mostly they can be seen in parks and gardens.
Let's figure it out
A beautiful and unusual name invariably raises the question in people: "Why was the bird called bullfinch?" Translated from Latin, the name sounds like "fiery." This name was given to the birds for the bright red shade of the abdomen in males. They also have red sides of the head. The wings and the cap on the head are black, the back is colored gray. Females differ from males in that their breasts are not red, but brown in color with a gray tint.
Sign
One of the answers to the question “why bullfinch is called bullfinch” can be a sign saying that the appearance of a bird portends a fast snow. Bullfinches become noticeable with the onset of cold weather. The bright plumage is especially striking when the leaves fall on the trees. From the word "snow" comes the name of the bird. Arriving in the warm regions in winter, birds with their red-pink belly draw people's attention to the expected onset of cold weather.
This is partly true, although to better understand why bullfinches are called bullfinches, you should turn to history. The birds got their name from the Turkic word “down” - red-chested. Later, the name was transformed into a modern sound. That is why the bullfinch was so named.
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Interestingly, in the warm season, no one notices these bright birds. The reason is that the red belly of a bullfinch loses its brightness and richness in color, becoming pale pink. This allows the birds to successfully hide in the dense foliage of trees. In the summer, the feathered birds are preoccupied with breeding their offspring, so they need not attract excessive attention to themselves.
Bullfinches feed on seeds, plant buds and berries, from which seeds are pecked. They also feed the chicks with plant foods. Bright birds almost never eat insects.
The ancestor of the hero of this article is a brown Nepali reel, who lived in antiquity in South Asia. He gradually migrated to the northern edges, having degenerated into a new look. Today, science knows five varieties of bright birds. This bullfinch is ordinary, Ussuri, gray, Azores and Filipino. Based on the names, it is easy to determine the places of origin of birds and their habitat.
Red breast is found only in two species: the common and Ussuri bullfinches. The carotenoids contained in plants used by birds for food provide a rich color. A bright color males attract females. The plain appearance of female individuals is more than compensated by their severe temper. Snegurki always prevail over males, solving family issues, and getting their own food, they choose the best branches of berries and placers of seeds.
Bullfinches are also popularly called mockingbirds for a rare gift to imitate the sounds of other birds. Snowball females love to tease the raven by imitating their croaking. In ancient times, the red-chested bird was called the Russian parrot for its ability to reproduce various sounds. In captivity, birds learned to whistle, repeat the sounds of pipes, flutes, portray singing canaries. Singing bullfinches could be profitably sold. Today, almost no one uses a rare gift, but they are kept only as decorative birds.
