Pogonysh - description, habitat, interesting facts

Under the flapper is understood a representative of a feathered family who prefers to dwell in wetlands. Such conditions are ideal for birds, they build a house in the swamps, feed here, raise offspring and successfully exist as a whole. The individuals of this group have an interesting coloring, which allows them to disguise themselves among swamps and vegetation. The paws of this bird deserve special attention, they are bright and thin, immediately noticeable against the background of the body. Birds so easily merge with the environment that a person passing by will not even notice the bird. But let's not get ahead of ourselves, we will analyze the main features in order.

Description and habitat

1. By their external characteristics, these birds are considered small-sized. Individuals of the presented family got their name due to the fact that they have a specific linear whistle. As for the size of the hull, the little animals grow up to a maximum of 25 cm, but smaller birds are more common in the natural habitat. By weight, the birds reach 120 grams, or even less. The final numbers depend on the gender of the individual and where she lives permanently.
2. In constitution, these birds are quite dense, their head is small. When compared with the Canadian or black cranes, belonging to the family of cranes, the dodgers, when compared with their relatives, have a much shorter neck length.
3. The tail is short and has a wedge-shaped format. He bends up, so it seems that the bird is always on guard. The beak is small, of a straight structure and shortish, conical in shape. The clawed legs are quite long, bright. The plumage of the body is colorful and dense.
4. The head is gray, as is the neck in the front section and the goiter. The case at the bottom is gray with a bluish tint, whitish spots may be present in this area. The wings and back are olive in shade, darker, a combination of light and dark tones is observed.
5. A distinctive feature of birds is the presence of a red beak, which is pigmented with yellow-green at the tip. The legs are bright, grassy. Individuals of female gender are slightly lighter in color than male representatives. But in other respects they are almost indistinguishable.
6. Naturally, one cannot help but affect the habitat of these birds. It has already been mentioned that they prefer to live in a swampy area in grassy thickets. They can also live in spacious meadow areas, near the coastline of water sources, such as channels, rivers and lakes.
7. Birds are quite common in Africa, near the Mediterranean and Asia. They are also met in India, Eurasia. For the winter they go to warm regions, because they do not tolerate cold.

Food

1. The diet of these individuals is based on all kinds of water insects, mollusks, larvae and fry. In addition, the birds often regale with leaves of plants, grain, young shoots, berries and seeds.
2. Separately, it is worth noting that the presented individuals belong to the order of predatory birds. Because of this feature, it can often be observed that birds feed on carrion. Nevertheless, the basis of the diet includes living creatures that live in shallow water or in the grass.

Breeding

1. All subspecies of the considered individuals belong to monogamous birds. Therefore, after pair formation, individuals remain loyal to each other until the end of days. Often nesting occurs in mid-spring or summer.
2. When the mating season begins, it is very interesting to watch the birds. The bottom line is that the males at this time begin to call the female with loud and rather sharp exclamations.As soon as the couple forms, they begin to sing together.
3. Such birds begin to throw their heads up together and arrange mating dances. They spread their wings and bounce. Such birds begin to build a nest in dense thickets, which are located in the shallow waters of various reservoirs.
4. Often, bulrush, cereal leaves, and various stems of dry plants appear as building material. Outwardly, the nest looks like a cup. The bottom is covered with grass and down. Clutch can number up to 10 eggs. Both parents are engaged in siting for a month.

Chases quite interesting representatives of birds. After the masonry is out, fluffy chicks appear. Just a few hours later, the young growth already leaves the nest and everywhere follows its parents. As night falls, the chicks stay exclusively in the nest. After 2 months, the young growth becomes completely independent.

Video: Ponzana (Porzana porzana)