All children know that with the onset of cold weather, many birds leave their native northern latitudes and go on long journeys in a southerly direction. Why is this happening? Yes, because under the thickness of snow it is more difficult to look for food, insects and ants, which can be enjoyed in the summer, and the air temperature becomes too low. However, not all inhabitants of the heavenly heights leave our latitudes. Which birds fly south and which remain in their homeland - we will now examine in detail.
Reasons Birds Change Their Home
Each bird is a representative of the fauna, and at the same time a separate kingdom among all animals. These creatures are warm-blooded, their body temperature averages 40 degrees. With the onset of severe frosts, birds begin to feel a lack of heat, feathers and fluff are not enough to cope with frosts. However, this situation is not inherent in every species of this kingdom. Sparrows, magpies, crows, and tits remain in their places in temperate latitudes, since the structure of their body, the number of feathers, and also subcutaneous fat are much higher than that of nomadic heavenly inhabitants. As a result, answering the question: “Which birds fly south?” - we can say that, first of all, those that for physiological reasons can not cope with severe frosts. By the way, if the bird lives in the more southern region (Rostov-on-Don, Belgorod), then it does not leave its lands due to the cold. But if her homeland is Norilsk, then flying to a more southern region is an integral part of her life cycle.
Food is an important criterion in choosing a place of residence
Speaking about which birds fly south, one cannot miss the nutrition factor. Most of them are insectivorous, therefore, in winter their diet is reduced to zero. Birds that feed only on bugs and insects get to those lands where there is no snow at all, so that their food remains complete. Among them, finches, thrushes, daws, rooks can be distinguished. Oatmeal, insects, zoryanka also actively eat insects. Also, discussing which birds fly south due to lack of food familiar to them, one should not miss the swallow here. In summer, they are capable of eating such large insects as dragonflies, May beetles and the like directly on the fly. In winter, therefore, it is unrealistic to meet them in our latitudes.
What birds fly south in the fall?
With the first cold weather, the most thermophilic inhabitants of the sky leave our country. Among them we distinguish swallows, rooks, starlings, siskins, buntings, cranes, blackbirds, larks. Of course, such large birds as herons, cranes, storks, ducks, swans, hoopoes, wild geese, orioles and cuckoos set sail to warm countries. The reason for the flight of these birds is considered a lack of food, in particular, hibernate or die out all the insects that lived in the summer. They are the first of all migratory birds to fly to the southern regions and the last to return to their homeland. That is why swallows can be seen on the street only starting in April. And wild swans return to their lakes no earlier than May.
Consider which birds fly to distant lands in winter
When the cold has already prevailed, birds can leave our region only if the frosts are too strong, or food, such as crumbs, grains, seeds, will not be on the streets at all. Tits, thrushes, woodpeckers often go to warmer countries, sometimes bullfinches leave our lands. Such inhabitants of the sky can easily tolerate frosts, so the only thing that can make them fly away is a lack of food.