The largest birds of prey in the world. Rare birds. Description and features of rare birds The natural range of the largest flying bird

This African bird cannot be confused with any other. Importantly pacing on her long legs, shaking her black feathers on the back of her head, she justifies the name that she was given - the secretary bird. Except unusual appearance, this bird is also famous as a merciless snake fighter. Local population appreciates and respects the secretary bird for this, honoring it to decorate the coats of arms of Sudan and South Africa.

Depicted with majestically spread huge wings, the secretary bird, as it were, protects the country and symbolizes the superiority of the South African nation over enemies. The secretary bird was first described by the zoologist Johann Hermann in 1783. This bird is also called "serpent-eater", "herald" and "hypohero".

Description of the secretary bird

The secretary bird is the only representative of the secretary family of the falconiformes order.. It is considered a large bird due to its huge wingspan - more than 2 meters. At the same time, the weight of the secretary bird is not amazing - only 4 kg, and the body length is not impressive - 150 cm.

It is interesting! There are two versions of the origin of the strange name of the bird. According to one, the most common, the “secretary” of the African feathered was nicknamed for the imposing gait and black long feathers that stick out on the back of the head.

Similar, only goose, secretaries and bailiffs of the late 18-19 centuries liked to decorate their wigs. Also, the general color of the plumage of the bird resembles the clothes of male secretaries of that time. According to another version, the secretary bird got its name from the light hand of the French colonists, who heard the French word "secrétaire" - "secretary" in the Arabic name "hunting bird" - "sacr-e-tair".

Appearance

The secretary bird has a modest plumage color. Almost all gray, it turns black closer to the tail. The areas near the eyes and beak look orange, but not due to feathers, but, on the contrary, due to their absence. It looks like reddish skin, not covered with a feather. Without taking color, the secretary bird stands out for its unusual body proportions: huge wings and long thin legs. The wings help her soar in the air, literally hovering at a height. And stilted legs are needed for a run, in order to take off. Yes! secretary bird - great runner. It can reach speeds of up to 30 km per hour or more.

It is interesting! Black long feathers, which adorn the back of the head of the secretary bird and are its external distinguishing feature, also give out males during the mating season. They rise from the back of their heads and stick out at the top of their heads, accompanied by croaking and growling sounds that the male makes when calling the female.

The secretary bird also has a long neck, which makes it look like a heron or a crane, but only from a distance. Upon closer inspection, it is obvious that the head of the secretary bird is more like an eagle. Large eyes and a powerful hooked beak give it a serious hunter.

Lifestyle

Secretary birds live in pairsstaying faithful to each other throughout life. There are cases when these birds gather in groups, but not for long - only for watering and until the abundance of food around ends. It is the presence or absence of food that causes the secretary bird to move from place to place. She prefers to do this on the ground, passing a day, sometimes up to 30 km. It may even seem that this bird does not know how to fly - so rarely does it do it.

Meanwhile, the secretary bird is an excellent flier. Only for takeoff it needs a decent run. And she does not gain height immediately, but gradually, with seeming heaviness. But the higher the secretary bird rises, spreading its 2-meter wings, the more magnificent the spectacle. You can watch the secretary bird in the air during the mating season, when the male soars over his nest, guarding the territory.

Most of the time these birds spend on the ground, but they prefer to sleep and hatch chicks on trees and in nests. They build them in the crowns of acacias, constructing huge platforms (more than 2 meters in diameter) from grass, leaves, manure, tufts of wool and other natural material. It turns out an impressive structure, threatening to collapse down under its own weight.

It is interesting! The nest is not built for one year. Moving away from him in search of food, a pair of secretary birds always returns to him when it's time to incubate eggs.

The secretary bird is an intelligent hunter. For different cases and types of game, she has her own tricks and tricks. For example, to catch a snake, this noble serpent-eater makes tricky runs with a constant change of direction. The snake, misled by such sudden movements, becomes dizzy and, disoriented, becomes easy prey.

In addition, when engaging in a fight with a snake, the secretary bird uses its large wing like a shield, repelling enemy attacks. The legs of the bird, pumped up and muscular, are also a powerful weapon. She kicks with them during mating battles with rivals. They also easily reflect the attacks of the snake, pressing it to the ground. The legs of the snake-eater are reliably protected from poisonous bites by dense scales. And the beak is so strong that with a blow it can crush not only the head of a snake, the spine of a rodent, but also the shell of a turtle.

For small game hiding in dense grass, the secretary bird uses the following technique: it walks around the territory, flapping its large wings on the grass, creating an incredible noise for shy rodents. If they hide in burrows, the secretary begins to stomp his legs on small mounds. No one can withstand such a psychic attack. The victim leaves his hiding place in horror, and the predator just needs it!

Even during fires, which are not uncommon in the African savanna, the secretary bird behaves differently than other representatives of the fauna. She does not fly away and does not run away from the fire, but uses the general panic to open the hunt. Then it flies over the line of fire and collects fried food from the scorched earth.

Lifespan

The life expectancy of a secretary bird is not great - a maximum of 12 years.

Range, habitats

The secretary bird can only be found in Africa and only in its grasslands and savannahs.. Wooded places and desert regions of the Sahara are not suitable for her to hunt, review and run before takeoff. As a result, the range of the serpent-eater is limited to the territory from Senegal to Somalia and a little further south, to the Cape of Good Hope.

Secretary bird diet

The secretary bird menu is very diverse. In addition to snakes of all stripes, it includes:

• insects - spiders, grasshoppers, praying mantises, beetles and scorpions;
• small mammals - mice, rats, hedgehogs, hares and mongooses;
• eggs and chicks;
• lizards and small turtles.

It is interesting! There are legends about the voracity of this bird. Once, three snakes, four lizards and 21 little turtles were found in her goiter at once!

What is the largest bird on our planet? According to the International Union of Ornithologists, there are more than 10.6 thousand species of birds on the globe today. Some of them amaze people with their gigantic size.

Among the largest birds of the modern world are the Andean condor and the African ostrich. In Russia, the championship in this category belongs to the black neck.

The largest flying bird in the world is the Andean condor. The distribution area of ​​​​the giant is the Andes and the western coast of South America.

The dimensions of the condor cannot fail to impress: the length of its body from the tip of the beak to the tail reaches 1.3 m, and its wingspan in flight is 3 m. With such dimensions, the body weight of an adult male often exceeds 11-13 kg. The weight of the female Andean condor ranges from 7.5-11 kg.

The condor has a black shiny plumage color, diluted with white fluffy feathers on the neck. hallmark bird is a flattened head devoid of feathers.

In males, its top is covered with a large burgundy crest. When the bird is in a state of arousal, the pink or reddish-purple skin on its head changes color, becoming bright red or yellow.

The impressiveness of the Andean condor is given by a hooked long beak, with which it tears the flesh of its prey.

The following facts are associated with the giant Andean:

1. The largest flying predator of the planet feeds on the fallen carcasses of deer, cows and other ungulates that died naturally. It does not attack living individuals.
2. To search for prey, the bird travels up to 200 km daily.
3. Condor is an incredibly hardy bird, able to go without food for several days in a row. To replenish strength after a long starvation, a predator needs several kilograms of meat at once.
4. Having obtained carrion, the giant absorbs it in the same place where he found it, thereby not spreading infection to neighboring territories and maintaining the ecosystem of his region in balance.

The Andean condor is listed in the Red Book as a bird species under threat of extinction. Despite the relatively small distribution area, the majestic giant is known throughout the world thanks to the work of J. Verne "Children of Captain Grant".

It was the Andean condor that was the huge bird that, in one of the episodes of the novel, carried away an insensible child in its powerful claws.

African ostrich: sizes and features

The largest flightless bird on Earth is the African ostrich, which lives in the semi-deserts and savannas of the Black Continent. To date, none of the birds existing on the planet can be compared with it in size.

The body length of an adult ostrich can reach 3 m, while its weight ranges from 130 to 200 kg. It is clear that with such a gigantic size, the bird is simply physically unable to rise into the air, but its inability to fly is compensated by the presence of strong, long and incredibly fast legs.

Sensing danger, an adult ostrich is able to run away from the enemy, while developing a speed of up to 70 km per hour. Short wings help him to change direction abruptly, confusing his tracks. But do not think that the largest bird in the world has a cowardly character. If necessary, she can overcome the enemy with one blow of a powerful leg.

The huge body of an adult male African ostrich is covered with curly black plumage, the tail and wings are painted in white. Female ostriches are characterized by a gray-brown color with dirty white feathers on the wings and in the tail region.

The head, neck and upper part of the legs of the giant bird are not covered with plumage. On the chest, the ostrich has a callus, on which it relies to give the body a lying position. She, like the head and thighs, is also unfeathered.

Ostriches are distinguished by many features:

1. They feed on plant food (flowers, fruits, plant shoots), in its absence they eat insects and rodents.
2. These huge birds do not have teeth, so they have to swallow pebbles, pieces of wood and other hard objects that they come across in order to grind their food.
3. Ostriches, like camels, are able to go without liquid for a long time, getting water from plants. Because of this, the ancient people called the bird "sparrow-camel" (this is how the name "ostrich" is literally translated from Greek).
4. African giants live in flocks, consisting of one adult male, several females and their cubs. Often they can be seen on the same pasture along with herbivores.
5. Due to their high growth, ostriches from afar notice the approach of predators hunting for them and take flight. Often, in order to hide from enemies, they press their head and neck to the ground, trying to merge with environment. This habit of ostriches has become the basis for the emergence of a common saying "bury your head in the sand."

Black vulture - Russian record holder

If the Andean condor and the African ostrich are recognized as the largest birds on the planet, then the largest bird in Russia is the black (brown) vulture, which is a representative of the hawk family.

The habitat of vultures is the mountainous regions of Central and Western Asia, Southern Europe and North Africa. In Russia, they live in Primorsky Krai, Kalmykia, Dagestan, North Ossetia, and Transbaikalia.

The largest bird in our country reaches a length of 115 cm with a body weight of 10-12 kg.

Wingspan adult- 3 m. The black vulture is a bird of prey leading a sedentary lifestyle. It feeds on large carrion, in search of which it travels huge distances every day (up to 400 km). During the flight, the vultures soar, making a low hissing whistle. They build nests in trees or rocks, where they live in pairs and jointly incubate future offspring.

The vulture has a brown or black-brown plumage color. His head is covered with short down, on the lower part of the neck there are long feathers resembling a collar.

Although the black vulture is one of the largest birds on the planet, its paws do not have sufficient power to carry prey. For this reason, the giant feasts on carrion on the spot, butchering its flesh with its strong and sharp beak.

Fossil giant argentavis

When answering the question of what are the largest birds known to man, one should remember about Argentavis. A bird with such an unusual name lived on the territory of modern South America 5-8 million years ago.

According to modern anthropologists, an adult Argentavis reached a height of 1.2 m with a body weight of about 70 kg. The wingspan of this ancient giant was 7 meters, which is an absolute record for birds that have ever existed on Earth.

Today, little is known about Argentavis, but even these meager data are enough to include it in the list of giant birds on the planet.

The question of which bird is the largest cannot be answered unambiguously. You must first define the criteria. The answer can be completely different - it all depends on the selected parameters.

Ostrich - the most in weight and height

Of the living, the largest bird in the world - The weight of an adult can reach 180 kg at a height of 2 meters 70 centimeters. Ostriches also own another record: the diameter of the eyes of these birds is 5 centimeters, and the weight of both eyes often exceeds the weight of the brain of this bird.

Ostriches - This is due to the structure of their body. They have no keel, ostriches have small wings and poorly developed pectoral muscles. But these birds are excellent runners with strong long legs. One of the fingers on each limb ends in a horny growth. The ostrich leans on this "hoof" while running. All these devices allow him to reach speeds of up to 70 km / h.

The main food of ostriches is shoots, seeds, fruits and flowers. But with pleasure they eat small insects, and even rodents and reptiles. Ostriches do not have teeth, and therefore, in order for food to be digested faster, they have to swallow stones and pieces of wood. Sometimes iron gets into the stomach of these birds.

Why did the ostriches suffer?

The body of an ostrich is covered with beautiful loose feathers. The exceptions are the head and neck, hips and "breast callus". Most often, males have black plumage, females are usually painted in gray-brown tones. This curly plumage led to the active extermination of these birds.

The fashion for ostrich feathers, which adorn men's hats and women's hairstyles, headdresses and other accessories, has led to the fact that the largest bird in the world is endangered. Shooting for feathers has led to a sharp reduction in individuals in nature.

Man is a threat and a rescue

To preserve and increase the number of these unusual majestic birds help ostrich farms all over the world. It turned out that ostriches live very well in captivity. The largest bird in the world has adapted even to Russian frosts.

The breeding of these birds is very profitable: they live for about 70 years, and retain reproductive functions until the age of 30. in terms of nutrient content, it competes with beef; during the season, the female brings up to 45 eggs. And each such testicle weighs an average of about 1.5-2 kg. The shell also comes into play. Craftsmen make various souvenirs from it, even caskets. Feather is still used today for making theatrical costumes and props.

The largest flying bird in the world

Albatross and condor are considered the largest birds that can fly. Their wingspan is 3.5 meters, sometimes reaching 4 meters. But the championship still belongs to albatrosses. The weight of an adult bird reaches 13 kg.

• They travel long distances in search of food. This largest bird in the world, hovering over the sea, has a very developed sense of smell. Therefore, the albatross hunts more often at night. It feeds on carrion, mollusks, plankton, fish and crustaceans.
• They love albatrosses and food waste from ships. Therefore, they often accompany ships, flying far from the coast. Sailors consider these birds to be storm harbingers. Before a storm, they fly over the water in search of food thrown up by the sea.
• The average life expectancy of these birds is 10-20 years. But in nature there are also 50-year-old individuals. Albatrosses prefer to nest in colonies. Although these are solitary birds, the colony settlement is safer.

Which flying bird is the heaviest?

This record belongs to the bustard. The weight of this bird, capable of taking off, reaches 19 kg. Currently, this species is listed in the Red Book. Its restoration is difficult, since the bustard breeds poorly in captivity. A nursery for breeding this species has been operating in the Saratov region for about 30 years.

Sensational discoveries of scientists

In 1980, scientists discovered the remains of the largest flying bird that lived on Earth more than 6 million years ago. They called this extinct species Argentavis magnificens, since excavations were carried out on the territory of modern Argentina. A stuffed animal of this giant bird is on display at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

The largest bird in the world weighed about 80 kg and had a wingspan of up to 8 m. One of its feathers was about 1.5 m long and its width was about 20 centimeters. The heavy weight made it difficult to fly. But, using ascending air currents, Argentavis magnificens could rise to a height of about 3 km and fly over 200 km. At the same time, he did not even need it. Scientists suggest that ancient birds used hills to take off.

Experts have found that the giant ancient birds were predators and fed on small land animals the size of a rabbit. The structure of the jaws and beak did not allow chewing food or tearing it into pieces. They simply swallowed the animal whole.

Thus, there are several answers to the question of which bird is the largest. This once again illustrates the diversity of species in nature.

For many centuries predator birds were perceived by man as mystical creatures endowed with special powers. In various tribal cultures, there were religious movements dedicated to predatory killers, they became the patrons of the caste of warriors and shamans. In modern ornithology, the term "bird of prey" refers to any kind of bird that has strong claws, sharp eyesight, and a strong, curved beak. Theoretically, the largest representatives of this species could well kill even a person.

1. Great Gray Owl

The Great Gray Owl is rightfully considered the world's largest bird from the order of owls. The body length of the bird reaches 80 cm, the wingspan is 1.5 m. It hunts during the day mainly for small rodents, sometimes for squirrels. The habitat of the bird is quite wide: gray owl prefers taiga zones and is found in territories from Siberia to Transbaikalia.

2. Andean condor


The Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere; despite the fact that its length from beak to tail is on average 5 cm shorter than that of the Californian condor, it significantly exceeds its closest relative in terms of wingspan (274-310 cm). In addition, it is heavier - the weight of males reaches 11-15 kg, females - 7.5-11 kg. The length of adult birds varies from 117 to 135 cm. The basis of the diet of the Andean condor is the carcasses of dead animals, carrion. In search of food, birds often travel long distances, flying up to 200 km per day. Away from the sea, they prefer the remains of large ungulates such as deer, guanacos, cows that died of natural causes or were strangled by cougars. On the sea coast, they feed on the carcasses of marine mammals washed ashore. In addition to carrion, they also destroy the nests of colonial birds, feeding on their eggs and attacking chicks. It is found in the Andes and on the Pacific coast of South America. Condors live up to seventy years, but the population of these birds is under threat.

3. Martial eagle


Martial eagles are found primarily in the open areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Females are slightly larger and heavier than males, the size of which is on average only 75% of the size of females. Body length from 78 to 96 cm, wingspan from 188 to 227 cm.
Pairs of martial eagles own ranges of more than 1000 km². Pairs nest at a distance of about 50 km from each other, which is the lowest population density among all birds in the world.

4 Philippine Eagle


The monkey-eater is considered one of the rarest, largest and most powerful birds in the world. The Philippine harpy reaches a length of 80-100 cm, a wingspan of up to 220 cm. Females, weighing from 5 to 8 kg, are somewhat larger than males, whose weight is from 4 to 6 kg. You can meet him only in the tropical forests of the Philippines: here he is considered the national symbol of the country. Killing this endangered bird is punishable under Philippine law with twelve years in prison and a hefty fine.

5. Snow vulture


One of the largest vultures in the world lives in the high regions of the Himalayas, the Pamirs and Kazakhstan. Weight 8-12 kg, length 116-150 cm, wingspan up to 310 cm. Makes vertical seasonal migrations, descending lower in winter. Feeds on carrion, mainly ungulates. A few nesting sites of the snow vulture are found on the Tibetan Plateau. Hunting for this species is prohibited by local law, but for poachers, the capture of such a vulture means huge profits, and the bird population is steadily declining.

6. South American harpy


This large hawk is found in the plains and rainforests of South America. The body length of this hawk is from 90 to 110 cm. The wingspan is about 2 meters. The female weighs 6-9 kg, the smaller male 4-4.8 kg. The harpy preys on large mammals such as sloths and monkeys. Harpies are the only predators, with the exception of smooth-fronted caimans, preying on arboreal (or prehensile-tailed) porcupines. Unfortunately, deforestation in harpy nesting areas leads to a steady decline in the population of these dangerous and beautiful birds: there are now less than 50,000 individuals.

7. Bearded man


"Bearded" is named from a bunch of stiff feathers or bristles under the beak, forming a beard. Distributed in Southern Europe, Eastern and Southern Africa, Western and Central Asia. The Bearded Vulture has been successfully reintroduced in the Alps, but is still the rarest bird of prey in Europe.
It feeds mainly on carrion, sometimes turtles and rodents. Life expectancy in captivity is up to 40 years.

8 Wandering Albatross


Wandering albatrosses reach a length of up to 117 cm and have the largest wingspan among modern birds - up to 325 cm. Wavy albatrosses are also called wandering. Albatross is a solitary bird, but nests in colonies. In general, the bird does not fly above 15 m above the water. Albatross can fly against the wind. An albatross can fly up to 1000 km per day. The average life expectancy is 10-30 years, but in some cases it can reach 50 years. Albatrosses feed most often at night. Its diet consists of fish, shellfish and crustaceans, as well as the waste left behind by trawlers and floating bases for processing fish and seafood.

9. Berkut


The most famous and most common bird of prey in the entire northern hemisphere, where it lives mainly in the mountains, to a lesser extent in flat open and semi-open landscapes. The wingspan of the golden eagle reaches an impressive 2.34 meters - a real killer machine. Since ancient times, the bird has been considered the patron saint of hunters and has a great mystical influence in many tribal cultures. To date, the golden eagle has completely disappeared or has become a very rare bird in many regions of the world, more or less preserved only in the mountains, treeless tundra and steppe. According to environmentalists, at present the total number of this bird in the world is about 170 thousand individuals, of which only 6.5 to 7.5 thousand are in Europe.

10 Hawk Eagle


South Africa's largest bird is most commonly found south of the Sahara. The hawk eagle is armed with huge, razor-sharp claws, and the blow of its hind legs is so strong that it could even topple a man. These birds do not feed on carrion and do not dig up burial grounds for fallen food, they rather prefer small insects or lizards, frogs. The hawk eagle is monogamous, if the female dies, the male never starts again new family Most of the time he ends up dying himself.

The world of birds strikes with a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Among the representatives there are very tiny individuals, and real giants and heavyweights. Below is a list of the top 15 big birds in the world.

• Family: Accipitridae
• Order: Hawk-like

A bird of prey that feeds on salmon fish. Sometimes attacks young seals. In extreme cases, satisfies hunger with carrion. The weight of the Steller's sea eagle reaches 9 kg and this greatly complicates its flights. Therefore, eagles have to nest near water bodies, where they hunt for aquatic inhabitants. Another interesting fact is that eagles are by nature fickle. They create pairs, but can mate with different members of the species. But their chicks are jealously protected and remembered for many years.

Habitat - Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Shantar Islands, Kuriles. They are found on the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and in the Koryak Highlands.

The Steller's sea eagle is listed in the Red Book and is under protection.

• Family: Cranes
• Order: Cranes

It is believed that the family of cranes was formed during the existence of dinosaurs. The largest representative is the Indian crane. The growth of the Indian crane can reach 1.75 m. It is the tallest flying bird in the world. The Japanese crane is the heaviest. Its weight is 12 kg. The plumage of Japanese cranes is bright white, only the neck and lower parts of the wings are painted black. The coloration of males and females does not differ.

They live in the Far East and in Japan. Japanese cranes are divided into two types: "island" and "mainland". The first settle on the island of Hokkaido and the Kuril Islands, the second - in the basins of the Amur and Ussuri rivers, as well as along the border of Mongolia and China. Nests are built near water bodies, in swampy areas where there is sedge and reed.

Currently, the Japanese crane species is endangered and taken under protection.

• Family: Accipitridae
• Order: Falconiformes

This is one of the largest birds of prey. Prefers mountain slopes and hills untouched by man. They are especially common along the banks of lakes and rivers.

The size and weight of vultures varies depending on their habitat. And these are Southern Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Vultures show no interest in animals, only in corpses. these birds are scavengers.

Black vultures are faithful to their partner and their families often settle apart, away from other individuals. Nests are built in the crowns of trees. The average life expectancy is 40 years.
The maximum weight of the neck is 14 kg.

• Order: Carnivores
• Family: American vultures
• Body weight: 14 kg.
• Body length: 140 cm.

Condors have bright characteristic plumage. Their body is covered with black feathers, there are white feathers on the neck, they are also present on the tips of the wings. The head of the males is crowned with a crest. A powerful beak serves as a weapon and a kind of “carving knife”. The paws are not adapted for fighting and perform an exclusively motor function.

Condor is a scavenger. It feeds on cattle, deer and goats. Sometimes it destroys the nests of other birds, remaining unpunished. It should be noted that the condor is a real glutton. There are frequent cases when, due to the large amount of food eaten, the bird cannot take off.

Settles high in the mountains. It is very rare to be found on the plains and in the savannahs. Habitat - South America, Andes.

• Family: Pelicans
• Body length: 180 cm.

It got its name because of the unusual feathers on its head, reminiscent of curls. It is the owner of the longest body (180 cm) and the second largest beak (0.5 m).

Prefers to eat fish: bream, perch, bream. The pelican swallows the prey whole, giving the stomach the opportunity to digest everything on its own. It rarely flies - its large size does not allow it to stay in the air for too long. But pelicans are very fond of water and spend most of their lives in water bodies.

Habitat - Ciscaucasia, Kalmykia.

These birds are also listed in the Red Book. Hunting for them is prohibited.

• Order: Petrels
• Family: Albotros
• Body weight: 16 kg.
• Flight speed: 50-80 km/h.

Albatrosses are large flying birds. Able to stay in the air for a long time, soaring. Very hardy, circle the globe in forty-six days.

The coloration consists of white feathers and black patches along the edges of the wings and in the lower part of the body. But only adults look like this. Young growth acquires the corresponding plumage four years after birth.

Almost the entire life of the wandering albatross passes over sea waters. The only exceptions are nesting periods. Albatrosses create nests in their homeland - on the islands of the southern hemisphere. A partner is chosen once and for life.

They feed on marine inhabitants, and sometimes do not disdain carrion.

The habitat is the entire globe.

• Order: Penguins
• Family: Penguins
• Body weight: 16 kg.
• Body length: 1 m.

The king penguin looks very similar to the emperor penguin. Differences are expressed only in size, weight and brightness of color.

For humans, king penguins do not pose a threat and are willing to make contact. They feed mainly marine life: plankton, crustaceans and fish.

They nest in colonies. Sometimes there are conflicts over territory. A quarrel between two males can also break out because of a female. And only after clarifying the relationship, the female chooses a suitable male. After mating dances, she lays one egg, which is cared for by both parents.

King penguins live on the nearby islands of Antarctica.

• Family: Bustards
• Order: Cranes
• Body length: 1 meter

Bustard - beautiful bird and one of the largest representatives of the class. The weight of the bustard is 16 kg. This bird can fly, but most often moves on the ground. This is facilitated by strong paws that do not have plumage. Distinctive feature bustard - the absence of the coccygeal gland responsible for the production of fatty lubricant for plumage.

Inhabits steppe zones, plains and meadows. It nests in places with dense vegetation. It can be found in North Africa, Eurasia, in the territory from the Pyrenees to Mongolia.

Bustard is omnivorous. It feeds on both vegetation and animals. Due to the brown coloring, it is skillfully disguised, which helps the bird in case of danger.

7. Swan - mute

• Family: Duck
• Order: Anseriformes
• Body weight: 22 kg
• Body length: 2.5m

It belongs to the duck family and is its largest representative. In weight can reach up to 22 kg. At the moment, the mute swan is under protection, because. illegal hunting has led to the extinction of most representatives of this species. Shipunov can be found in artificial reservoirs. They feel comfortable in captivity.

The plumage is white. The whiteness is diluted only by a bright red beak. It feeds on vegetation: algae, roots. All that is on the water and under water.

This is migrant living in Russia, Europe and Asia, Sweden, Denmark, and Poland.

• Family: Penguins
• Order: Penguins

For its large size, the emperor penguin paid with the ability to fly. Its small wings are not able to withstand a large weight, which reaches 50 kg.

The penguin feeds on marine life and, thanks to its sharp eyesight, is able to dive to a considerable depth - about 550 meters. The emperor penguin can only be found in Antarctica. He is well adapted to harsh conditions. Subcutaneous fat, dense fine plumage, streamlined body allow them to survive at low temperatures and move under water. The black color serves as a camouflage.

Penguins settle in colonies, which in number reach 10 thousand individuals.

• Order: Ostrich
• Family: Nandu
• Body weight: 30 kg.
• Height: 1.5 m.

The large rhea has the same strong legs as the ostrich, it can run fast, but it cannot fly. Wings are used for balance. Feels good in the water. Nandu's feet are equipped with three toes, one of which has a sharp claw for protection.

The nandu menu is varied. Roots, various fruits and plants, leaves, seeds are used. From time to time it eats insects and small vertebrates. If necessary, it can easily go without water, eating food with a high liquid content.

Has a large number of partners in one season. Their number can reach 15 individuals. The male usually takes care of the offspring, he also incubates the eggs.

The habitat of the nandu stretches from Brazil to Patagonia.

• Family: cassowaries
• Order: cassowaries
• Body weight: 55 kg

Emu looks like an ostrich. Previously, it was called the Australian ostrich because of this similarity, however, this opinion is erroneous. And now it is believed that the emu belongs to the order of cassowaries. This bird, like the ostrich, helmeted and orange cassowaries that preceded it, is not able to fly. It is explained by the presence of hairline, instead of plumage, and the underdevelopment of wings. Emu is omnivorous, it loves moisture and water, but it can do without water for a long time. Emu are real family men, males especially anxiously take care of their offspring, independently teach the chicks to get food and survive. Like the ostrich, the emu is polygamous, but in this case, the females incubate the eggs with the male. Habitat - Australia, but in the wild, these birds are rare.

• Family: Cassowaries
• Order: Cassowaries

Another representative of the cassowaries, which differs from the previous one in weight (58 kg) and in the bright color of the neck - in addition to blue, there is also orange. In addition, the female orange cassowary is larger than the male and also has brighter plumage. The weight of the female is 58 kg, and the male is 38 kg. Like its relative, the orange cassowary is omnivorous. Everything that catches his eye can serve as food for him: leaves, fruits, lizards, insects, etc. The bird is polygamous, the male chooses several females to continue the genus. Interesting fact is that the male raises offspring on his own, while the females leave the family and look for new partners. Cassowaries are protected and live mainly in New Guinea.

2. Helmeted cassowary (common cassowary)

• Family: Cassowaries
• Order: Cassowaries

The cassowary got its name from a hard, comb-like growth on its head. Of the entire cassowary family, the helmeted cassowary is the heaviest. It weighs about 85 kilograms and takes an honorable second place among heavyweight birds. Appearance the cassowary is rather unusual: in addition to a large crest the size of a head, the bird has a bright color in the neck area (it is blue, like the head), as well as black hair-like plumage. The cassowary is the owner of strong legs, which are ahead of even the legs of an ostrich in thickness.

The paws end in three fingers with long sharp claws, which are used in case of danger as a formidable weapon. Habitat - forest areas. It can be found in New Guinea, North Queenland and on the islands of Aru and Seram. Basically, cassowaries eat plant foods, but are not averse to feasting on small animals.

Cassowary is monogamous.

• Family: Ostrich
• Order: Ostrich
• Body weight: 156 kg

The first place on the podium among heavyweights is occupied by an African ostrich. It has no keel and therefore cannot fly. The reason is the large size, as well as poorly developed wings. But this is offset by long, powerful legs that allow the ostrich to travel long distances at a speed of 70 km/h.

Most often, ostriches create a kind of “harem” with a dominant female and lower-ranking females. The ostrich chooses the dominant female for life, the rest of the females may change over time.

It is important to know that the cowardice of the ostrich and its habit of burying its head in the sand is a myth and nothing more. This bird can give the strongest rebuff to the enemy if its life is in danger. Thanks to strong paws, the ostrich is able to inflict great damage on an adult lion or break a tree trunk. For this, many predators respect the ostrich and prefer to bypass it.

2017.08.12by