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Chomga is an aquatic bird of the grebe family, which does not exceed the size of a duck in size. The sophisticated image of the chomga harmonizes perfectly with a long graceful neck and a sharp straight beak. An uninitiated person, having heard the name of the bird, might think that we are talking about toadstools. However, the bird has nothing to do with the mushroom nature. The Chomga acquired the name “Great Grebe” due to the specific taste and smell of its own meat. The repulsive taste and unpleasant aroma of game makes the bird free from human encroachment. This becomes especially relevant in the spring, when many hunters become active and the duck population is significantly reduced. We can say that nature thus protected the chomga from extermination. What else is interesting this graceful bird, try to figure it out.
Appearance of a noble chomga
It’s not difficult to recognize a large grebe, even from afar. On the head in the summer, vertical feathers grow that resemble horns or a crown. They have a multi-colored color, which favorably distinguishes the bird against the background of other representatives of the avifauna. The bird is considered quite large, its average weight is about a kilogram. The back of the chomga is brown or red, and the stomach, neck and head are white. In spring, in the early stages of plumage, a red collar forms around the neck, which disappears without a trace by winter.
Males differ from females, primarily in size. The length of the male wing can exceed 20 cm. The body length reaches 50 cm, and the wingspan can reach up to a meter. The thin beak has a reddish color. A feature of the chomga is its paws, which work in the form of screws. With the help of them, the bird is able to quickly rotate 90 degrees, change the direction of its movement both along and across the original trajectory. On the paws of the chomga there are special membranes that allow it to immerse several meters in water, swim at a depth and in general, perfectly control the body in the water column.
Today, ornithologists around the world know about 18 species of chomga. Due to the unfavorable ecological situation and widespread pollution of water bodies, 5 of these species are listed in the Red Book as an endangered species. A few decades ago, poachers encroached on the beautiful plumage of birds, when female fur coats with similar fur inserts were in fashion. This also played a decisive role in reducing the population of grebe ducks.
Greater Grebe Habitat
Chomga Lifestyle Features
In the water, the chomga swims and dives fine, but on land it feels rather awkward - short legs allow you to move along the coast very relatively. For this reason, the duck in most cases swims, other methods of movement are considered forced. There must also be a good reason for the flight, for example, a winter flight. In the event of danger, a large grebe is more likely to dive under water, where it may not be afraid for its life, since in the water element this bird simply has no equal.The Chomga skillfully presses its wings to the body to improve hydrodynamics, this allows the waterfowl to gain incredible speed at depth. This is a great way to defend against enemies that the chomga has enough. Large birds, for example, crow or marsh harrier, can destroy nests and eat eggs of a large grebe. As soon as the chomga chicks hatch and fall into the water, they can become a tasty food for large predatory fish.
The main food of the big grebe
Since water is the natural habitat of a chomga, it feeds on what it can get for itself in a pond. The main diet is medium and small fish, which the duck-toadstool swallows completely. Sometimes, under water, along with the fish, the bird can swallow its own feathers, which subsequently just toad burp back, along with fish bones. In addition, the chomga eats other water inhabitants - frogs, crustaceans, various mollusks and insects. If the birds arrived in early spring, when the ponds are still covered with ice, the grebe will gladly enjoy the first spring vegetation. If the ponds and stagnant lakes do not freeze for the winter, the bird in most cases does not fly away for wintering, it is only enough to dive deeper into the water to get its own food. The chomga dives really deep, there were cases when fishermen found birds stuck in fishing nets at a depth of 25-30 meters. In addition, the grebe duck is able to hold air for a long time and be under water for 15-20 seconds.
Nesting Chomgi
In the mating season, individuals of the great grebe become incredibly beautiful and refined. A spectacular forelock grows on the head, and a collar appears around the head, which looks more like whiskers. Mating games are long and intense - individuals flaunt in front of each other, stretching and showing their partner a long neck and large wingspan. At the same time, loud sounds are heard, which are usually heard for hundreds of meters around. After the birds have chosen a partner, the pair begins to build a nest. As a rule, a chomga builds a nest on water from reeds or dry plants that do not drown. In some cases, the nest can be built on an island of floating peat. From the side, such a floating nest seems like a bunch of unnecessary garbage, although in reality there is a recess inside the dry stems and leaves. In the depths of the nest there are several large white eggs; they have an unusual, pointed shape at the edges.
Over time, the eggs from the snow-white become brown, acquiring a marsh hue due to the fact that the surrounding vegetation in the water rots. Such a finding of a nest in water in a semi-flooded state is a guarantee of the safety of life of the chicks. The eggs hatch for 3-4 weeks, during which the female tries not to leave them. If she is forced to leave, the eggs simply close on top with grass and reed. With an interval of several days, the chicks hatch one after another. At birth, they already have a small fluff; the chicks are hiding under the maternal wing. Almost immediately, the female puts the young on her back and begins to dive with them in the water in order to accustom them to the natural environment.
The chicks become fully grown after 2-3 months, when the mother lets them go free swimming and they begin to take care of their food on their own. In the wild, the chomga lives for about 10-15 years, in the conditions of nature reserves much more - almost 25 years.
Video: Great Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
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