Dunlin - description, habitat, interesting facts

The content of the article

1 Appearance
2 What does the dunlin eat?
3 How does reproduction occur?
4 Where do dwarfs live?
5 Interesting about dunks
6 Video: Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Dunlin - small birds, whose body weight reaches a maximum of 60 grams. These birds belong to the order Charadriiformes and the snipe family. Today we will take a closer look at this species of birds and find out interesting facts about them.

Appearance

Dunlin is considered a fairly small bird. In size, it is even smaller than a starling, the length of its body reaches only 20 centimeters. It’s possible to determine then you’re the dunlin, according to the specific singing that this species of birds emits during the arrangement of nests and breeding of offspring.

On the head of these birds, a prominent long beak of black color, slightly uneven, can be noted. The paws of the birds are as black as the beak, and as long and thin. Dunlin has a slightly elongated oval body. Their eyes are usually black, on the light plumage of the head they are especially noticeable. In general, their plumage is quite motley. The basis is gray, which is complemented by white stripes and black spots.

The appearance of males and females is no different. They can be distinguished only by size, males are slightly larger than representatives of the female half.

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What does the dunlin eat?

Dunlin can easily eat both plant food and animal food. Its diet most likely depends on what type of food prevails in the area where it is located, as well as on the time of year. Still, dunks still love animal products. For example, they enjoy eating shellfish, worms, snails, beetles, shells, dragonflies and larvae. Crustaceans, as well as other animals living in water bodies, can also be included in the menu.

Of plant products, Dunlin prefers to eat algae, a variety of seeds, as well as pagons and rhizomes of various plants.

How does reproduction occur?

Dunlin - monogamous birds. They are completely ready for breeding at the age of one year. They form their pairs once and for a lifetime. A partner can only change if the previous one dies for some reason. The mating season, when males are only looking for females, and when pairs are formed, both partners are very excited and active. This is especially true for males, who can fly around the female and sing for her throughout the day. It is worth noting that not all birds can pair up and start creating a nest, some individuals are left alone.

Very interesting dunks create nests. As a rule, they find a place that is on a hill. After that, the male with its beak pulls out a small mink directly in the ground, which it later covers with leaves and moss. Then the female sits in the nest and awaits the laying of eggs. Basically, this process occurs in late April, early July. For one clutch, dunks give up to five eggs maximum. The female herself is also engaged in their incubation, the duration of this action takes about three weeks. Even after the birth of the chicks, the female does not manage to go far from the nest, because at first the babies are completely independent and helpless. For this reason, the first time the female is constantly near the chicks and is engaged in their feeding. After the chicks can independently move and fly, the female can finally return to her former life. As soon as the kids begin to fly, they can already earn their own food, so they no longer need the help of their parents.

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Where do dwarfs live?

These birds are distinguished by the fact that they choose exclusively cold stripes for living. These birds are considered migratory, as in the coldest weather they fly to warmer territories. Their nesting period traditionally occurs in Europe. Most often, for the arrangement of nests, dunks choose areas with swamps and flooded meadows. When individuals fly to other territories for wintering, they also try to select places bordering rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. Also one of the favorite territories of dunlin is the area overgrown with shrubs. In such an environment, you can very easily hide your offspring and equipped nests.

Interesting about dunks

An interesting fact about these birds is their great concern for their offspring. If it is necessary to protect future chicks, they can even take extreme measures, for example, dive under water with an egg to protect it from predators.

Dunlin can be attributed to long-livers among birds, since their average life expectancy is 24 years.

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