Moskovka - description, habitat, interesting facts

Moskovka is a small species of motile birds of the titmouse family. Previously, it was called "masking" because of the black color of the head, but then the name changed slightly to the modern version.

Appearance

The bird itself is small in size - 10-15 cm, weighing up to 12 grams. The appearance of the male and the female is practically the same, it is rather gimmicky, mobile, small in size with a short tail. Females are slightly faded compared to males. The bird has a black color of the head, under the beak above the chest - a black speck that looks like a tie. Below it is gray-white in color, above is gray-blue with buffy sides. The tail and wings are also a grayish-brown color.

The feathers on the head are slightly elongated, resembling a crest - only in birds of the southern subspecies.

She sings from March to September, likes to make sounds, singing them on one note, sitting on the tops of trees, which have a full view around.

Habitat

In the European part of the Russian Federation, it can live at the level of 65 ° north latitude, and in the Ob river valley - 64 ° s. w.

She leads an established lifestyle, but if there is a catastrophic lack of food, she can change her place of residence. Many Muscovites arrive at the arrival of warm pores, while others remain to settle in a new place.

In the mountainous part, it moves vertically from the valleys to places covered with snow of lesser thickness. It lives mainly in high-trunk coniferous forests, giving preference to spruce forests. Muscovite is also found in southern Kamchatka, in Ukraine, Altai, southern Urals, the upper part of the Amur River, as well as in Turkey, Sakhalin, Corsica and Taiwan.

Way of life

This genus of birds lives in packs, only in the mating season can live with its half, until the chicks grow. A flock totals up to 50 individuals, but in some parts of Siberia it can reach hundreds or even thousands of individuals. As a rule, it includes not only Muscovites, but also other species of tits, as well as chicks, kings and ordinary pikas.

Lives, as a rule, in mountain cracks, abandoned mink rodents, old stumps and tree hollows, especially prefers abandoned woodpecker hollows. His dwelling is made of sticks, feathers, horsehair, lined with cobwebs and wool from the inside, the male does not participate in the construction of the nest, however, it remains his duty to feed the “spouse” as soon as the chicks are born.

Upon reaching one year, the bird begins a sexual lifestyle: a one-year-old Muscovite finds a partner and, as a rule, remains faithful to him. There are times when, due to lack of food, the bird even shares food with its half, so as not to be separated for a long time.

During the search for a half, the bird develops a hunting appetite. She gets herself bugs, butterflies, flies, dragonflies, aphids, grasshoppers, worms and other insects that suit her taste. In the summer, her diet is more diverse, it is associated not only with an abundance of food, but also with the love of birds for food.

By the arrival of autumn and winter, the diet of the bird changes dramatically. Her food includes seeds of conifers. An important winter support for her are feeders, bread crumbs, seeds and grain, which people leave them.

Mating season

The mating season lasts from the end of March to the end of June.The male seduces the female with his singing, dancing and shaking wings, emits melodic trills.

After the birds have found their half, they begin to build a nest, which, as mentioned above, the female is engaged in.

During the laying season, the Muscovite can lay 5 to 9 eggs per season. Muscovite carries out two masonry during the period, this happens almost always and in all places of its habitat, with the exception of some parts of Africa. The eggs are white, they are small in size with small brown or reddish spots.

Chicks grow on average 20 - 25 days. During this time, the male is engaged in food, especially the first days. The female at this time is with the chicks, protecting and warming them. As soon as the chicks are a little stronger, mother goes in search of food. Reaching a month old, the chicks live with their parents for a couple of days, and then go on free flight.

In the fall, they join the flock, before the onset of spring, while they try to keep up with adults and be as close as possible to close ones.

Interesting Facts

1. Muscovite has more than 20 subspecies, which practically do not differ from each other.
2. Like all tits, she is very voracious and eats all day. Even when you don’t want to eat, she hides her food in a nest or hollows, so that she can eat it later.
3. It is easily tamed, in just two weeks it can take food from a person’s hand.
4. It has an excellent memory and can remember those places where it previously found food to return to it.
5. The average life expectancy of Muscovites is 9 years.
6. Her heart carries out about 1200 contractions per minute.
7. In the summer it eats 300 - 400 caterpillars, i.e. per day can eat as much as she weighs.
8. They do not owe their name to the Moscow Region; earlier they called them “masking” because of a black “hat” and a tie on their chest, then the name was transformed.
9. Muscovite is the only bird of the genus who does not bother life in a cage. She quickly gets used to the person, especially if you behave with her carefully and without sudden movements.
10. She does not have particularly surprising external data, but she has excellent musical talent, which makes her admire her wonderful voice.

Video: Moscow (Periparus ater)