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The hoverback is a bird of prey, but its size is much smaller than other falcon representatives. Due to its small size it very quickly and easily rises into the air, performs various maneuvers.
Description of the appearance of the bird
If we compare it with other birds of the falcon family, it is in many ways similar to them, and its main difference is the size. That's just it does not prevent him from being a brave hunter as his relatives are larger.
It may seem that the appearance of the bird is very similar to the "Peregrine Falcon", but this is only for the original look. They are distinguished by their size - the shklok is smaller, his lower body is covered with longitudinal spots and he is dressed in red and red "pants".
In adult birds, body length can be up to 36 cm.Externally, the wings are small, but with a span of 80-84 cm. The hock weighs from 150 to 350 grams. The male is distinguished from the female in size, but it is not easy to recognize them, as the female is only slightly larger.
The color of the bird is bright and colorful, it consists of black, white, gray and cinnamon. But they are so contrasting and harmonious that they immediately attract attention. Females and males have the same dark, bluish-colored upper body. At the bottom of the bird has an ocher plumage, covered with black speckles. The neck and cheeks are white, there is a mustache near the beak, they are black and give the bird a more awesome look.
The pants and undertail of the bird are dark brown. The paws stand out well and are immediately noticeable, as they have a green or blue tint.
The tail and legs have brown plumage. Limbs strong and strong, curved claws, sharp. The tail resembles a blade in shape, and crescent-shaped wings. The flight of the bird is very fast; it can be intermittent. If a predator caught the flow of air, then in this position it can fly a long time, while not making any movements.
Where does the hobby live?
Such a bird can be found on almost every continent where there are suitable conditions for it.This could be Russia, Finland, Vietnam, the British and Japanese Islands, Tunisia, Morocco. With the arrival of cold weather, birds migrate towards South Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.
Within Europe, the bird is not permanent, about half a year, after that it moves to another place for nesting.
Habitat bird hoop
For the life of the birds chooses forests and forest-steppe - an area where there is a lot of thickets and open territory. Shrubs on the banks of forest rivers, open flat and field landscapes are best suited for them. There have been cases when this bird settled near people, but this happens quite rarely, usually it avoids contact with a person.
She loves height and comfortably feels at high altitude up to 4000 meters, especially if it is above the sea.
The bird is flat and not adapted to a sedentary lifestyle. Every year she looks for the best place and favorable habitat for herself. This is due to the fact that it is completely unsuitable for low air temperature, cold weather and frost. In the warm season populates northern Eurasia, and there is nesting and breeding.
Very rarely can they make a nest in the depths of a forested area with a mosaic structure, that is, these are forests, fields, a penny, an edge. Being in the southern region, birds grow roots in dense thickets, steppes.
If danger approaches, the nest is guarded by both parents. As soon as approaching the enemy, the birds attack him first, to drive away from their home with the chicks. In the event that a person tries to get close to the nest, they can also attack or imitate an attack and at this moment make loud, piercing sounds.
Bird lifestyle and character
The nature of the bird hoblock restless and restless. They are not friendly, all the time show aggression to other species of birds. This is not to say that this is due to lack of food or something else, they just start to behave angrily when another bird appears. And if this individual is also trying to get to the nest, then there will definitely be a fight. Black mustache and menacing look hoge attached severity and intimidating appearance.
If a birdie smaller in size than a hob is in sight, then for him it already becomes a prey, and he tries to catch it.Not every time it turns out, but any other feathered is a target for him.
It can be said that a person is a useful bird for a person, because if it nests near its house and garden, it will save them from other birds that can cause harm to trees and plants.
Nutrition
To hunt this bird flies alone, its prey becomes living species in the neighborhood, not far from its nest. The bird usually chooses the time to search for food in the evening when it is just beginning to get dark. In the summer, if the full moon and the area is well lit, hunting may continue.
The diet is quite diverse, most hunting occurs on insects. There may also be delicious prey of dragonfly and bat, beetles, locusts, small rodents, such birds as a swift and a starling.
This bird prefers preference to country and coastal swallows. Due to its excellent vision, prey is caught during the flight. Sometimes the prey caught in the air is not enough, and you have to catch rodents. This is much more difficult than catching in flight. Having caught a large prey, the falcon will eat it immediately on the nearest tree, and if something small is caught, it will sip up on the fly.
The small goat can be seen for 250 meters, and if it is a bird, then at a distance of a kilometer.A bird can easily take prey from another predator. Catching it in the air, he holds it with his powerful paws and sticks in with sharp claws, sits on a tree and takes it to be eaten.
Reproduction and longevity
As soon as the first heat begins, even in early spring the birds prepare for the breeding season. Males choose females during a flight to a warm country or when they arrive at a new place. Such birds create their own pair, and remain with the chosen female until the end.
If we talk about mating games, then, like in many birds, the males do not behave as usual, they begin to perform different maneuvers in flight. This period falls on the end of spring.
Trees for nests choose high. Hatching eggs is a female. This process lasts 27-31 days, then chicks appear.They have black eyes, the whole body is covered with snow-white fluff, the face is decorated with a bright yellow beak. Dad produces food, and mom feeds children. Feeding young falcons can last up to two months. Until the time of migration comes, they all remain together.
Eleonora's cheglock is a related species of feathered one. Its size is larger than the bird and the character is much friendlier. Some birds have black plumage, other colors are not mixed.
The life span of a hocklock in the wild is approximately 38 years.
Interesting Facts
- The bird is capable of making various sounds, both pleasant to the ear and loud, pressing on the ear - in the case when danger is approaching its nest.
- “Cheglok” is a name that came from Ancient Russia, and is translated as “authentic and true.” Scientists think that it attaches this bird to the rest of the falcons, although it is smaller in size.
- The approximate number of small google is 3 mil, today it is stable. Human activity does not harm their lives, and there are almost no enemies among the natural environment.
- Such a bird is good for nature, it destroys insects and protects trees from them.
- During the season, the bird lays up to four eggs, they do not have more than one clutch.
- These birds can use the same nest for a long time.
- The hoblock is not suitable for falconry, it does not hunt large-sized birds.
- If the cry of the swallows is heard, then you can see in the sky how the hoollock will attack them.
Video: hocklock (Falco subbuteo)
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