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The bearded man is understood as a representative bird belonging to the hawk family. These individuals are considered to be vultures, they differ from ordinary birds except for the plumage of the body and neck. They also have pointed wings, a wedge-shaped tail and strong clawed legs. When a bearded man rises up, his whole appearance inspires fear. But we will not run so far forward, we will analyze all the features in order of priority.
Description
The individuals of the breed group under discussion are quite large, their body weight can reach 7.5 kg. Most often, birds weighing 5-6 kg. As for the wingspan, these indicators go beyond the boundaries familiar to humans and amount to 275-300 cm. Individuals grow to a maximum of 1.2 m.
Adult birds are light in the neck, head and abdominal region. They can be bright red and beige-brown. It all depends not so much on gender as on age category.
Black spots flaunt in the eye area. In the area of the beak, more precisely below it, there is a black bunch and feathers. It is for the last line that the bird got its final name. Because this bunch is similar to a beard.
In the presented variety, the back is brown with silver inclusions. The irises of the eyes are yellow or white; there is a red fringing. If the birds are young, this border will be brown.
The tail is wedge-shaped, elongated and disheveled. Paws are gray, beak is grayish with blue. Young growth is famous for its brown color with gray feathers. Young birds are dark, but their peritoneum is light. A speck of black tone stands out on the back. Beak with blue, dark patches at the end. Paws are greenish with a blue tint.
Nutrition
- These individuals are predatory in nature. They feed on carrion, consume animal bones, which can be found in the waste zone (garbage containers near residential buildings). Also eat marmots, hares, poultry and small animals of a different type.
- If the individual is hungry, but the carrion is not nearby, it will look for dying pets. Then finishes them with his powerful wings. Not one bird can boast of such a trick.
- The predator attacks the prey from the back, then starts flapping its wings in the shape of a fan and literally stuns the game. Deals the last blows and tries as soon as possible to push the prey into the abyss. Typically, such fights end in death, after which the bearded man can safely have a meal.
- If the mammals are small, the bird will tear the prey in parts and swallow it along with wool, bones and even claws. Beards hunt only medium mammals when they are very hungry.
- To summarize all of the above, then these birds always give preference to bones. Individuals prefer to grab a skull with their beak, throw it from a cliff into the abyss so that it breaks into bones. Then they collect the leftovers.
- When the young growth is about 2 months old, the birds grow to about 18 cm. With these indicators, they already show their first hunter instincts, swallowing sheep’s ribs or consuming vertebrae of goats. Due to the increased acidity in the stomach, such food is easily absorbed.
Spread
- Birds are more common in the vastness of Africa, namely in its southern and eastern regions. They are also found in Asia and Europe. If we consider the distribution on the territory of Russia, individuals are found in the Altai Territory and the Caucasus. These birds feel great in the Alps.
- Under the bearded man is understood a bird of rocks. She is not afraid of heights, she feels great in the air and on the tops of the mountains.It lives where people cannot reach. But when hungry, he descends to a lowland and searches for food in a safe place.
- Briefly describing the habitat, let's say the following. Beards live at a height of half a kilometer to 4000 meters. However, there were cases in which individuals were recorded arriving at altitudes of up to 7 kilometers.
Breeding
- It is worth noting that representatives of this species are monogamous. Such birds live all their lives with one partner. Individuals begin to build nests on convenient sites. The size of the home is really impressive.
- Often, birds begin to build nests on sites that are located at high altitude in the mountains, crevices of rocks, caves or under overhanging rocks. Outwardly, the dwelling looks like a plexus of dried branches, old bones and knots. The height of the nest is from 1 m.
- Inside the house, the represented individuals line the bottom of the dried grass and their own feathers. Animal hair may also be present. Externally, the nest is distinguished by layers of white stool. In addition, the remains of food that adults bring to their offspring are always present near the home.
- Nesting of the considered individuals occurs rather early. In some habitat regions, it can be replaced that couples begin to prepare for this in December. The female carries out the first laying in January. The interesting thing is that the female brings 2 eggs. Parents immediately destroy one of them.
- The female lays the second egg about 2 months. It is worth noting that it has a rounded shape up to 9 cm in length. In this case, the color of the egg can be varied, inclusions are also not always present. Hatching offspring is exclusively done by the female. As soon as the chick is born, both parents already feed him.
- While the chick is growing up, his parents not only get food for him, but also keep them warm all the time. Often babies continue to be in the nest for up to 2 months. After another 4 weeks, the chick is already starting to try to fly.
Bearded birds are unique predatory individuals. In adulthood, they are silent. Only the chicks at first scream. This happens when the baby is hungry. Young growth begins an independent life from the age of three months.
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