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Ordinary zhulan is a bird, which belongs to the family of shrikes, it is classified as a passerine. This specimen has another name that sounds like a rogue shrike. She got this name due to the shape of her silhouette, which bears a great resemblance to the magpie silhouette.
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The common julan is larger than a sparrow in its size, the size of the bird’s body can be 20 centimeters, and the maximum weight of an adult reaches 32 grams. The upper part of the head of the male, as well as his neck, are painted in gray, and the chestnut hue is characteristic of the back.
Males have a long tail, like wings, it consists of black plumage. Through his entire head from the base of the beak to the ear, crossing the eye, passes a large strip also of black color. On the tail of the male on both sides are contrasting strips painted in white. On his abdomen there is a yellow plumage, the same color as on the bird's chest and the front of the neck. The nails of this bird acquired an ash-gray tone, and its sides and lower part of its chest have a pale pink tint.
The color shades of the females differ from the color of the body of the males, their upper part is painted a buffy tint, and the abdominal part is dirty white, on which a transverse pattern with a scaly structure is clearly distinguished. A strip of dark brown shade runs along the female’s eye.
From the Japanese shrike, birds of this species are distinguished by the absence of white spots on the wings. And according to the color of the plumage located in the tail and in the upper part of the head, this bird can be distinguished from the Siberian species.
Main habitats
For its habitat, an ordinary julan chooses light forests covered with dense shrubs. It can be found in clearings, burned out areas and forest edges. He can also live in floodplains, city parks, orchards and forest belts surrounding the fields.
Offspring
An ordinary zhulan is a mockingbird; its abilities to imitate other birds are especially pronounced during the mating season, when the male, attracting the female, tries to sing in different voices. For their nests, these birds choose a cover from dense shrubs; for this, they look for a short tree or a fallen trunk in the thickets, densely overgrown with vegetation. In rare cases, they can arrange nests on the ground.
Birds of this species arrange their nests in the form of massive, rude structures with fairly thick walls. As building material, they use twigs of various lengths, stems of dry grass or medium-sized roots. Feathers are mainly used for laying, less often fluff or wool can be used.
The laying of the female consists of 6 eggs, which are covered with a shell, painted in pink or olive yellow, with shapeless blotches of brown color. The incubation period in zhulans lasts up to 16 days, the female incubates the clutch, and the male provides her with food. When the chicks are born, they are fed by both parents. These birds manage to produce one brood per season.
The babies are born in downy robes, painted in dark colors, and only the head is painted in ash gray color. Having fledged, the chicks begin to leave the nest, but they are not yet able to feed on their own, and somewhere within 3 weeks they need the care of their parents.
Birds of this species with extraordinary courage guard their offspring, even people can be attacked by four cheaters. With the threat of attack, the Zhulans use a peculiar tactic, the female makes a distracting maneuver, sinking down and making a lot of noise, and the male attacks from the air. Moreover, at first he makes several warning approaches, but if the enemy does not calm down, he will be punished using his beak.
Diet
In the choice of food, an ordinary julan prefers large insects, which can be locusts, various grasshoppers or beetles. Although, if possible, this bird will not abandon small vertebrates, such as field mice, toads or small lizards. This small predator also poses a threat to small birds from the order of passerines - sparrows, tits or finches. With a successful hunt, these birds are able to harvest food for the future, drying prey on sharp branches or thorns of plants.
Key characteristics of behavior
It is not uncommon that zhulans settle in the neighborhood of hawks, who are not afraid, arranging nests under the protection of thorny shrubs. Warning young animals about danger, an adult bird twitches its tail and emits loud rhythmic signals. They do not miss the opportunity to settle near open reservoirs, where numerous frogs can become easy prey.
In the case of the appearance of the enemy near the nest, the male always behaves very selflessly. Even if it was possible to drive away the enemy, the male will continue his pursuit with noisy escort. When there are several pairs in the settlement next door, males can offer collective resistance.
Video: common Julian (Lanius collurio)
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