What birds live in the Crimea?

The Crimean peninsula is considered an unusually beautiful place, where there are many representatives of flora and fauna. Thanks to the high mountains, sweeping trees, many animals and birds have found their place of residence in this area. The variety of birds pleases the eye of tourists and locals.

Scientists have determined that the avifauna of the Crimean peninsula consists from representatives of 19 orders, 300 species of birds are marked in its description... In accordance with the nature and duration of stay in the area, nesting and non-nesting birds are present here. The first are sedentary, summer nesting. The birds nesting in the summer are, in turn, subdivided into migratory, wintering, and occasional migratory birds.

Migrating birds tend to visit the peninsula at a certain period of the year, thereby destroying parasitic insects in the area where they rest and feed. These representatives are the objects of hunting. The names of nesting birds are striking in their numbers, it is this group that has the largest percentage in Crimea, 60% of the total number of birds. Among them there are an equal number of sedentary and migratory.

About 17 species of wintering birds have been recorded on the peninsula. Rare species are represented mainly by carnivorous representatives. The landscapes and nature of the peninsula is an important factor in determining the species diversity of birds, their feeding habits, migrations and biological characteristics.

The borders of the yailas and forests of the Crimean peninsula were inhabited by the following birds:

• forest horse Is a small bird that resembles a sparrow;
• missel thrush considered the largest thrush, it weighs 140 grams and resembles a song thrush;
• Crow is a very large member of the crow family, it is quite strong and has excellent flying abilities.

The spotted woodpecker found its habitat on the flattering slopes. Passerines are represented in the form of a spruce crossbill, which gives preference to winter family life. Also, these include 3 types of tits:

• big;
• blue tit;
• long-tailed.

Miniature representatives of birds include beetles, ratchet warblers, pikas. Nuthatches, wrens, robins and many others can be called nimble tree frogs in the forests of Crimea. The tawny owl also belongs to the forest species; it is a nocturnal predator. Daytime predators are represented as a sparrowhawk, a goshawk. We will also cite representatives of the hunting fauna who prefer forest land.

1. Woodcock. The uniqueness of the bird is manifested in its nocturnal lifestyle. This noble creature is highly preferred by hunters.
2. Black Kulik. The bird is about the size of a starling. Its main color of the feather cover is dark brown with white blotches. It has a second name - white-tailed, due to its conspicuous tail. When choosing a place of residence, he prefers moist coniferous forest and swamp.

The avifauna of the forest-park and park zone of Crimea amazes with its diversity. In these parts of the peninsula, 14 species of sedentary birds found their habitat. Among them there are such birds as the backbone sparrow, brightly colored goldfinch, jackdaw, rook, magpie, linnet. Among the singing representatives, jays, vociferous finches, and nightingales are quite common.

The Crimean steppe region was inhabited by living creatures later than other areas. Natives of the Ukrainian steppe have become residents of the territory; they have a different species composition. On the Crimean peninsula, steppe birds occupied a significant percentage of the territory, however, many birds are on the verge of extermination. A striking representative of the steppes of this region can be called the little bustard, the sandpiper-tirkusha, as well as the lover of night vigils - the sandpiper-avdotka.

Since on the territory of the steppe there is dry air, insufficient moisture, poor vegetation cover, a lot of plowed lands with pesticides, the number of species diversity of birds is not so great here. Throughout the year on the territory of the Crimean steppes, you can meet the bustard, this fast steppe inhabitant is considered the heaviest flying bird. The following types of larks live in Crimea:

• field;
• small;
• crested;
• steppe.

The aforementioned birds are not tree-perching, they are "land-breeders". Quail and little bustard can remain for the winter if the year is warm. These birds are considered to be excellent runners, which are characterized by the ability to hide. The following birds are used to settling in the old steppe forest-steppe.

• Shrike, which is Shrike and Black-browed. He is a large representative of the songbirds. The shrike has a reputation as a hermit.

• Millet oatmeal. This species is the largest of the buntings. The bird is characterized by brown color, sexual dimorphism and sonorous chirping.

• Gray partridge - this is one of the most demanded trophies among hunters. Poultry meat is a delicacy.

• Greenfinch - it is a feathered with a dense constitution, a short tail and a distinct notch. The bird is granivorous and has a size that is characteristic of sparrows.

• Slavka. This representative belongs to the suborder of song sparrows. This is a large bird, which is characterized by melodic singing.

• Hoopoe is a small bird that has bright plumage, a long narrow beak and a crest.Disguising itself as a habitat, he hunts reptiles.

• Nightjar. The bird is nocturnal, it has a discreet gray with a brown tinge color of feathers, so it can easily hide near the bark or forest litter.

• Gorlinka - This is a minor representative of the pigeon squad. Its peculiarity can be called a mustard color and the presence of a "necklace".

• Oriole characterized by a small body size, bright color, monogamy and a loud voice.

• Magpie. This bird species has a noticeable feather color, which is characterized by contrast. The plumage on the back, head and breast is black with a metallic or green tint. Other parts of the body are snow-white.

• Garden bunting is a small sparrow-like bird. Its plumage is not characterized by special beauty, however, it is brighter than that of a sparrow. The representative is highly regarded among fans of songbirds.

In the foothill part of the Crimea, the field, steppe and crested larks are found. Among the varieties of oatmeal, here you can see millet, pleshanka, wheatear, and golden bee-eater. The northern mountainous areas are characterized by such inhabitants as shrike, scoop, starling, goldfinch. In this region, it is easy to find the following species of nightingales:

• western;
• eastern;
• European.

The fauna of the Crimean Peninsula includes waterfowl and seabirds. The most common representatives of the second category are the following.

1. Herring gulls. The bird is also called the gull because of the peculiarities of its cry. The representative nests on the territory of the entire coast, it can fly after ships, graze on the shore and on an empty autumn beach. The seagull is an omnivorous bird that tastes not only fish.
2. Dive. This is a small representative of the fauna, which has a pointed beak. Its excellent swimming and diving capabilities contribute to the successful hunt for prey.
3. Cormorant - a bright representative of the copepods. The bird is quite heavy, its feathers do not get wet. In the hunt for fish, the cormorant can swim and dive perfectly. Both large and crested representatives of this species can be found on the peninsula.
4. Heron... Long-legged, hidden, shy creature, lives in the eastern part of Crimea. The clumsy bird prefers to feast on small fish, frogs, crayfish, molluscs and worms. The most common in Crimea is the gray heron, a little less often you can find the white heron.
5. Heron. The nocturnal bird is rare and secretive and bears some resemblance to a heron.
6. Small bittern - this bird settles on the banks of a stream and lake, as well as in reed and reed thickets. It is the smallest species of heron and eats tadpoles, small fish and frogs.
7. Swan... This bird is represented as a mute swan and a whooper swan. This beautiful, intelligent waterfowl is found along the coastline and swims along resort towns.

The diversity of the Crimean avifauna can amaze many. It is unique and fragile, therefore its preservation directly depends on human activity. In the 60s of the last century, wonderful pairs of Demoiselle Cranes lived on the territory of the peninsula, which cannot be said about our days. This site is famous for its extinct birds, and there are also protected species.

There are not so many bustards and little bustards left in Crimea compared to previous years. The decline in their numbers is associated with a decrease in nesting sites, plowing of the steppe, and the use of chemicals. The endangered birds of the peninsula include the eagle and the pink starling. This territory rarely becomes a nesting site for birds, more often a wintering place.

About what birds can be seen in the Crimean bird park, see the video below.