Which bird arrives first in the spring? Spring arrival of birds

With the onset of spring, our feathered friends return from warmer climes to their native habitats. What birds are considered migratory and which birds fly to different regions of our vast country first? Let's talk about this in the article and get to know the tireless, singing workers of forests, fields and gardens.

Birds are warm-blooded creatures, therefore, with the onset of cold weather, they are forced to leave their habitable places in search of comfortable places with a warm climate, so as not to freeze and die from hunger. But as soon as spring comes, the birds return to their homeland and their usual life begins: setting up a nest, hatching eggs, feeding and raising babies. And all this trouble is accompanied by extraordinary life-affirming chants.

Interesting fact: all migrating birds return to their old homes, following their internal schedule. Each species of migratory bird has its own flight time. Moreover, birds love old places of residence and nests in which chicks were previously hatched. If for some reason the home is destroyed, restless workers build new nests.

Wagtails And rooks They are the first to arrive from warm countries, when the first thawed patches appear in the snow cover. Starlings, different types ducks,larks They return with the first warmth even when the ice has not yet melted.

greenfinch And linnets also arrive from the south before the ice on the rivers melts. Birds with colorful plumage return from the countries of the northwestern part of the African continent, northern Iran and Central Asia, where they spend the winter.

Cuckoo- a prominent representative of migratory birds arriving in the summer from Africa and the Asian tropics.

Blackbirds spend their wintering in the south. In early spring they gather in large flocks and return home.

Redstarts They return from African countries and South Arabia, where they go for the winter at the end of August.

Nightingales prefer to fly to hot Africa for the winter.

What birds fly from warm countries in spring

Birds migrate to warm countries and, with the onset of winter conditions, are deprived of their usual food. These are all insectivorous birds: flycatchers, swallows,swifts, nightingales, warblers and other birds. In winter conditions, these birds have no chance to survive, so flying to countries with a warm climate is an evolutionary reflex developed over a long time.

Western Asia, the Mediterranean coast, the African continent are the places where birds go to wait out the winter. Migration of birds from warm places of temporary habitat occurs with the cessation of cold weather and the onset of spring. From the end of March to the first ten days of May, a massive return of birds from warm countries begins.

When flying away from their native nesting sites, migratory birds have to travel long distances and fly across seas and desert areas. New winter habitats for migratory birds must correspond to the usual temperature climate of their native places. Thus, forest birds settle in warm wooded areas, and coastal birds - on the coasts of rivers, lakes, sea and ocean islands.

We will show photos of migratory birds wintering in warm countries.

Lapwings arrive from southern countries in early spring. They can be seen even in March during solar thaws. It happens that incoming cold weather, replacing short-term warming, forces lapwings to return to the nearest wintering grounds. Most often this is the Mediterranean coast.

All species of blackbirds winter in warm countries. The most common types in Russia are: blackbird, song thrush, black-throated thrush,white-bellied thrush,Japanese thrush, brown thrush and etc.

White-browed Thrushes- small birds from the thrush family, fly to the African continent for the winter in late autumn. They like to build nests in sparse birch forests.

Warblers- inconspicuous birds that can imitate the voices of other birds. They fly to India for the winter.

Landrail flies to Africa for the winter A small secretive bird that lives in thick and tall grass.

Warblers- small singing birds. Live in Russia: garden warbler, gray warbler, whitethroat, Warbler. Birds feed on small insects, caterpillars, and larvae. When the berries ripen, they switch to the sweet menu. They spend the winter in African territories.

Which migratory birds are the first to arrive in the Moscow region in spring?

Before the snow had even melted, flocks of birds returned to the Moscow region with the first warmth of spring. wagtail. These birds are the first to fly from distant countries. You can often see small, nimble little birds on blocks of melting ice floating along rivers: gray with a white chest and forehead, as if wearing caps and a black beard.

White wagtails They settle near bodies of water and human habitation. Birds make loose nests in crevices of walls, under bridge rafters, in depressions on the ground, in hollows, bushes, and under tree roots.

Rooks- also early guests in the Moscow region. Quite large black birds with a purple tint of plumage arrive with the first thaw. A strong beak allows birds to find worms, larvae and insects crawling out into the sun in sun-warmed thawed areas. On old tall trees you can see mass settlements of rooks made from dry branches - “rooks”.

Starlings- small beautiful songbirds with black plumage, shimmering with a metallic sheen with bronze, purple and blue tints. White spots greatly decorate starlings, which disappear during the spring molt. An unusually wide sound range allows starlings to imitate various sounds and even the singing of other birds.

Upon returning from warm wintering grounds, starlings often imitate the singing of their subtropical counterparts. Male starlings are the first to arrive and set up a nest house. The females then return and immediately begin incubating the eggs.

Larks usually return to their native places in the first ten days of April. The arrival of birds is accompanied by ringing singing, spreading over the fields from heavenly heights. A small bird the size of a large sparrow has an elegant crest on its head. Field birds feed on the seeds of last year's grasses and cereal plants in thawed thawed patches.

Finches They arrive together with larks, thrushes, and swans in early April. The elegantly colored bird is a decoration of our forests. The plumage of males is brighter than that of females. The chest, part of the back and head have shades of brown-red color. The finch is decorated with a bright blue cap and a green tail. Finches willingly settle in gardens, parks and forest areas. They can often be found near human habitation.

Blackbirds— birds with bewitching singing fly in after the finches. The thrush's feathers have many shades: from brown to almost black. The thrush nests in massive nests in bushes or directly in depressions on the ground, using clay and earth to seal the side walls of the home.

Redstarts- nimble, beautiful birds from the passerine order. The tail and tummy seem to glow orange. It is on this basis that the birds got their name. The birds are distinguished by a gray-white head and some white feathers in the bulk of black wings. They fly to their native lands in April and announce their arrival with loud chants even at night.

Swallows They arrive, heralding spring, in early to mid-May. Beautiful birds settle near human habitation and make nests from pieces of clay, earth and blades of grass. Near rivers and reservoirs with steep overhanging banks you can often see numerous settlements of swallows. This is the best time to catch small insects, which swallows catch without stopping their flight.

Pied Flycatchers fly to us when the time comes for the mass appearance of insects and flies. It is not for nothing that the small, inconspicuous gray-brown bird got its name. The male looks more elegant - contrasting white and black feathers, a white forehead and part of the feathers in the black wing. Insect larvae and flies are the main food for birds.

Nightingales- gray inconspicuous birds with a wonderful, bewitching singing, appear in our forests in the second ten days of May. To build a nest, birds choose wet bushes near rivers. Insects, spiders, berries and small plant fruits are the main food for birds.

The first migratory birds of Russia, video:

What birds fly to Siberia in spring

The return of feathered singers to the Siberian region indicates the end of winter cold and the arrival of warm days. The harsh Siberian winters are a real test for birds. The most important thing is not even the excessively sub-zero air temperature, but the problem of food. Many little birds die of hunger, since the snow cover covers all possible places of food for a long time.

Black-throated Loon- a beautiful bird with elegant feather color. At the end of September, the loon migrates alone or in pairs, gathering in large flocks to rest near water bodies. For wintering, birds move to the coastal zone of the Black and Azov Seas. Some loons fly closer to the Caspian and Aral seas.

Common goldeneye- large-headed duck of brown-gray plumage. Lives and nests near taiga rivers and forest lakes. They migrate to the Caspian Sea for the winter.

Coot- representative of waterfowl. The white forehead and beak stand out in contrast against the black shiny plumage. It spends the winter in warm countries: India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia.

Klintukh- a pigeon that lives in forests and parks. Leads a cautious lifestyle and hides in dense foliage. It winters on the Caspian coast and even reaches the central and southern regions of Europe. Returns home in March-April.

Nightjar- a nocturnal, inconspicuous bird with large eyes, a large mouth, a small beak and short legs. It lives in pine forests, feeding on insects. For the winter it goes to Africa, flying around the Sahara.

What birds fly to the Urals in spring

The length of the Ural Mountains is great: from the tundra to the steppe zone of Kazakhstan. It is not surprising to find many nomadic and migratory birds here. The harsh and unpredictable climate, frosty, snowy winters force birds to migrate to warm countries and return to their native places in the spring. Let us list the bright representatives of birds that return to the Urals in the spring.

Whooper swan- a beautiful white bird with black legs that lives in ponds. The lemon yellow bill fades into a black tip. Only after two years the wings of whooper swans become snow-white. Wintering is carried out in the Caspian Sea or on the Mediterranean coast. Many whooper swans fly to the reservoirs of the Bird Harbor near Omsk and stay until spring.

little swan or tundra swan They also return to the Urals in the spring, where they nest near water bodies and hatch chicks.

Osprey- a predator living near rivers and lakes abounding in fish. For the winter, it flies to Africa and returns to the Urals in May to its old nesting site.

Buzzards- medium-sized birds of prey. They feed on the larvae of bumblebees, wasps and bees. Sometimes they feast on small lizards, frogs, and mice. In cold, rainy weather they may abandon a clutch of eggs.

White Owl- another exotic living in the mountain-tundra Urals. A beautiful Arctic bird with snow-white plumage with patterned black and brown patches throughout the body. For the winter it flies to southern countries, and returns in the spring to hatch owlets.

What birds fly to Belarus in spring

The bird world of Belarus is represented by a wide variety of birds. Favorable natural conditions, dense forests and numerous bodies of water contribute to the life and nesting of many birds. However, harsh snowy winters are a great challenge for many birds and they are forced to fly away in search of warmer climes. Almost 200 species of migratory birds have been recorded in Belarus.

Starlings, lapwings, larks, ducks,geese They arrive in March with the first thawed patches. Birds wintering in Africa arrive later. These are mainly insectivorous birds: storks, cuckoos, robins,blackbirds etc. In the second half of spring there are already enough insects, worms, and larvae to feed these birds. The last to arrive in Belarus black swifts And swallows. Their arrival occurs in late April-early May.

White stork is a symbol of the Republic of Belarus. The beautiful snow-white bird has a wide black edging on its wings, the span of which reaches 1.5-2 m. Storks have a thin reddish beak and long bright legs. Birds live near bodies of water in the lowlands. They often build nests near human dwellings. Storks fly to India and Africa for the winter.

Red-headed Pochard- a duck with a long neck and an inconspicuous tail. Drakes look very elegant: a red-brown head, a black chest and white plumage on the sides. Females look modest and inconspicuous. Ducks winter in Africa, Japan, western and southern Europe.

What birds fly to the North in spring

The harsh living conditions of northern latitudes force birds nesting in this territory to leave their homes and migrate to places with a comfortable climate for bird life.

Kittiwake gulls They build nests on the coastal cliffs of the Kola coast, and in order to survive the harsh winter of the far north, they fly to the northwestern Atlantic and even fly to the western coast of Greenland. With the onset of spring, large flocks of kittiwakes return to their homes.

Arctic tern- a typical representative of birds of northern latitudes. Red legs and beak adorn the white and gray bird from the gull family. For the winter, the bird migrates to the Southern Hemisphere, covering vast distances and settling for the winter in the waters of the Southern Ocean.

Small sarych- a predator that migrates to Africa or South Asia in the winter. Habitat: hilly coniferous forests interspersed with open areas. It feeds on small vertebrates: gophers, mice, small birds. The buzzard's voice resembles a cat's meow. When migrating to warm regions, birds create large flocks and fly away at the end of September.

What birds fly to Murmansk in spring

Murmansk is a city located beyond the Arctic Circle. The location on the steep, rugged eastern cliffs of the Kola Bay and the temperate climate, moderated by the proximity of the Barents Sea, provide nesting opportunities for many unique birds.

Dense forests and many lakes and streams also favor bird colonies. Ornithologists of the Lapland Nature Reserve are carefully studying the migration of birds for the winter and their return. From the beginning of April, the active movement of birds to the polar region begins.

Bunochka- a small beautiful bird with a snow-white chest and belly interspersed with black-brown feathers. The sonorous trills of snow buntings can be heard from the beginning of April.

Following the snow buntings, birds listed in the Red Book of the Murmansk Region arrive from warm countries - whooper swans, and in the last days of April - eagles. At the same time, they actively flock to their previous nesting sites: gogol, merganser, bean goose, mallard, seagulls, finches.

They arrive in early May white-browed thrush And field thrush.

Which birds are the last to arrive to us?

The movement of birds to their native lands begins from the end of February to May. Some birds feed on insects, larvae, worms, berries and fruits of plants that appear in late spring. Therefore, their arrival from distant countries occurs at a later time.

Seagulls, geese, ducks,cranes appear in their native places from mid to late April.

Warblers, forest pipits,redstarts flock in early May. Warblers- miniature birds with a fragile build and a thin beak in yellow-green plumage. Insects are the favorite food of small birds.

Swifts, swallows, nightingales return home in May. Swifts, as well as swallows They grab flying midges and insects on the fly. Birds spend most of their lives in flight, taking beaks full of food and only then returning to the nest to feed their chicks.

Orioles And Golden bee-eaters- beautiful birds with yellow plumage, the last to arrive from warm countries. Melodious singing common oriole resembles playing a flute, and is sometimes associated with the meowing of a cat. Midges, caterpillars, berries are delicious food for the tireless worker of the forests - the oriole.


Bee-eater- one of the most colorful and beautiful birds. Wild bees, wasps, bumblebees, dragonflies and other flying insects are the main food of the forest beauty, which swallows live food on the fly. Therefore, the bird moves early for the winter, and one of the last to return to its homeland when there is enough food for food.

Folk signs and migratory birds

A clear migratory schedule of birds has been noted since ancient times, therefore many folk signs are associated with birds’ arrival in their native lands. The onset of warm sunny days, the time of sowing cereals in the field and vegetable crops in the garden - observant people have associated the arrival of certain birds.

weather and migratory birds

Traditionally, the first birds to return from distant countries heralded spring and the arrival of warmth.

  • Geese are calling for spring.
  • Geese and ducks have returned not emaciated - expect a long and cold spring.
  • A migratory bird moves in flocks - to a friendly spring.
  • If you see a rook, notice spring.
  • I saw a starling - spring is at the porch.
  • The swallow has arrived - there will soon be thunder.
  • The bird crows in bad weather.
  • The larks have arrived - it's time to take out the hives.
  • The finches have arrived - wait for the cold weather.
  • A bird builds a nest in the sun - expect a cool summer.
  • The jackdaws flew in and screamed for warmth.
  • The nightingale is flooded all night - it will rain.
  • The rook collects brushwood from the ground - it promises a sunny summer.
  • Rooks are circling in a flock around the nesting site - it’s bad weather.
  • The tit began to sing - to stay warm.
  • The wagtail's legs are thin, but it will break the ice and bring spring.
  • The larks began to sing early over the field - a warm spring is expected.
  • Birds are in no hurry to fly south - it will be a warm autumn.

harvest and migratory birds

To this day, old people follow the tradition of sowing grains and other crops at certain times in the spring after migratory birds return home. And if you follow folk wisdom, you can grow an excellent harvest according to the bird's hint.

  • The rooks have settled into the nest - in three weeks go out to sowing.
  • The baby rooks are screaming - it's time to sow oats.
  • The pied flycatcher calls for the start of plowing.
  • The starlings have arrived - this buckwheat will arrive in 40 days.
  • The chiffchaff began to crackle - these carrots and beets.
  • The lapwings have arrived - prepare the turnip seeds for sowing.
  • The oriole sang - it’s time to sow peas, cucumbers and cabbage.
  • I heard the cuckoo singing on bare trees before Yegor (May 6) - don’t expect a harvest.
  • The swift is circling en masse - it’s time to sow flax and barley.
  • The cuckoo has crowed, the rowan tree has bloomed and the oak tree is opening - it’s time to sow flax.
  • The birds returned from warmer climes on time - expect an excellent harvest of bread.
  • The lark began to sing over the warm earth - it was time to sow grain.

What birds live in the garden

Many birds willingly settle around human habitation. In our gardens they have something to feast on: numerous larvae, harmful insects, worms, snails, slugs - and many more edible things can be found by the little feathered workers. The following birds live and nest in garden plots and nearby forests:

  • wagtails
  • goldfinches
  • cuckoos
  • warblers
  • tits
  • redstarts
  • warblers
  • sparrows and many other birds

What birds are useful for the garden?

Birds living in gardens are very beneficial for fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. After all, small birds find harmful insects for food on our estates. It has been noticed that the birdies living in gardens do not allow the codling moth, pear bug, ringed silkworm, raspberry gall midge, aphids, caterpillars and other garden pests to breed. In addition, feathered friends delight us with extraordinary trills. We list the useful birds desired for our gardens:

  • tits
  • wagtails
  • redstarts
  • warblers
  • robins
  • lentils

These birds protect our garden from pests and do not damage the crop. But there are also birds that willingly eat not only worms in our gardens, but also sweet berries. This is how starlings are known to have a great desire to feast on ripe cherries. And the prankish sparrows peck at the sunflower seeds.

How to attract beneficial birds to the garden

To attract birds to the site, you should create comfortable living conditions for them. At the beginning of spring, titmice, nest boxes, and wooden houses for bird nesting are built on trees. It is advisable to plant dense shrubs in the form of a hedge along the perimeter of the site. In such places, small birds like to build their nests. And for the winter you should stock up on seeds, sunflower seeds, and nuts to feed wintering birds on frosty days.

Birds are faithful defenders of forests, park areas, our gardens and vegetable plots. Little feathered friends delight us with their enchanting songs and attract us with the beautiful color of their plumage. The arrival of spring and the onset of warm days are heralded by the first birds that have flown to their native places from warm overseas lands. You should take care and treat with care the little singing creatures that bring peace and harmony to the planet.

What birds benefit the garden and how to attract them, video:

March brings early thaws to central Russia, and in some places the snow cover begins to melt. But the time when spring will take full control of the earth is still far away. In mid-March, the first birds return from wintering grounds with the spring wind, delighting people with their appearance.

The rooks are the first to arrive

Rooks return to their homeland after a long winter, starting in the second half of March. In the folk calendar there is the day of Gerasim the Rooker - March 17th. From this time on, the ground begins to thaw, and birds have the opportunity to obtain food by looking for insects.

The rooks immediately begin building nests. Old houses fall into disrepair over the winter, so there is enough work for everyone. Birds can build up to 15 nests on one tree. Rooks carefully prepare places for hatching chicks, constructing them at a height inaccessible to predators.

Rook nests exist for many years, acquiring a bizarre multi-tiered shape. Both parents build houses, and at the end of March or early April the female lays eggs. The chicks are born after 18-22 days, mom and dad feed them for a month.

Mature rooks master the sky gradually, at first not flying far from the nests. They then gather in flocks and travel across the fields in search of more varied food.

The rook is omnivorous; it feeds on insects, grains and small rodents. Birds destroy pests, but sometimes damage crops and vegetable crops. Despite this, everyone forgives the rook, because he is the first spring songster.

The beginning of the mass arrival of birds

Following the rooks, filling the birdhouses that have been empty since winter with hubbub and life. This happens at the end of March. First, the males arrive and prepare the houses for the arrival of the females, driving out the uninvited guests. Then the females return, and the new family incubates and feeds the offspring.

Then the larks return from their winter quarters. They begin to settle into nesting sites in early April. Then siskins, finches and linnets arrive. The spring sky comes alive, and the air is filled with the joyful singing of flocks of birds.

The mass of feathered inhabitants for the summer occurs in mid-April and early May. Robins, ducks, geese, and cranes return to their summer quarters. Waders also settle in their former habitats.

The return of birds from winter quarters makes people happy after long cold weather, gives hope for the best and the feeling that spring will certainly come, followed by a hot summer.

Wonderful pictures with migratory and wintering birds. Which birds remain to spend the winter in their homeland, and which ones fly away?

Walking through a park or forest, we listen to birds singing and often simply don’t think about which bird trills so nicely. There are birds that live in our area all year round, but there are also those that fly to “warmer climes” in the fall.

The fact is that in winter it is very difficult for birds to find food for themselves, because insects, berries and grains become scarce, and when snow falls, it is almost impossible to find them at all. And different species of birds solve this problem in different ways: migratory birds fly hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to warmer countries, while sedentary birds adapt to our harsh winters.



A tit in the snow, which apparently wants to eat some seeds

Settled, wintering birds: list, photos with names

To help the birds that remain over the winter find food, feeders are hung. And it is quite possible that they will be of interest to the following visitors:

  • Sparrow. Noisy sparrows that fly in flocks may well become the first visitors to the feeder.


  • Tit. Tits are in many ways not inferior to sparrows; they quickly rush to feed in feeders. But compared to sparrows, tits are endowed with a more gentle disposition. Interestingly, in the summer the tit eats almost as much food as it weighs. You can often see mixed flocks of both sparrows and tits at feeders.




  • Gaichka. A close relative of the tit. However, the chickadee's breast is not yellow, but light brown. The chickadee also differs from other tits in that it makes a hollow in a tree to make a nest in it.


The chickadee is a special type of tit
  • Crow. Ravens are often confused with rooks. It is known that in the western part of Russia crows are very rare. Therefore, if you live in the European part of Russia and see a black bird emitting a piercing croak, then most likely it is a rook.


  • Pigeon. The distribution and lifestyle of pigeons was largely influenced by people who simply brought them with them to different parts of the Earth. Now pigeons are found on all continents except Antarctica. Pigeons easily exchange rocks, which are their natural habitat, for man-made structures.


The nodding gait of pigeons is due to the fact that this makes it easier for them to examine the object of interest to them.
  • Woodpecker. In the warm season, woodpeckers feed mainly on insects, which they get from under the bark of trees, and in the cold winter, they can also feed on plant foods: seeds and nuts.


  • Magpie. The magpie is considered a bird of high intelligence; it is capable of expressing a lot of emotions, including sadness, and can recognize its reflection in the mirror. It is interesting that not only its fellow birds react to the alarming cry of a magpie, but also other birds, as well as wild animals, in particular bears and wolves.


Magpie - wintering bird
  • Owl. Owls come in different varieties, large and small, and there are more than 200 species in total. These birds are endowed with acute vision and excellent hearing, which allows them to lead a nocturnal lifestyle. It’s interesting that the tufts on an owl’s head are not ears; owls’ real ears are hidden in the feathers, and one of them is directed upward, and the other downward, in order to better hear what is happening above the head and on the ground.


Owl is a night bird
  • This bird is also considered an owl and is a close relative of other owls.


  • A rare owl that lives mainly in mountainous areas in northern latitudes. The name of the bird, according to different versions, means “inedible” or “insatiable.”


  • Jackdaw. Externally, jackdaws are similar to rooks and crows; moreover, there are mixed flocks in which all three species of birds can be seen. However, the jackdaw is smaller in size than the crow. And if you are lucky enough to observe a jackdaw up close, you can easily recognize it by the gray color of some of its feathers.


  • Nuthatch. This little bird climbs tree trunks very deftly. In summer, nuthatches hide seeds and nuts in the bark, and in winter they feed on these supplies.


  • Crossbill. Like the nuthatch, this bird is excellent at climbing trees and can hang upside down on branches. Crossbill's favorite food is seeds from spruce and pine cones. This bird is remarkable in that it can hatch chicks even in winter, but only if there is enough food.


  • Bullfinch. Only males have bright red plumage on the chest; females look much more modest. Bullfinches are more often seen in winter, because due to lack of food, they are drawn to people. In summer, bullfinches prefer wooded areas and behave inconspicuously, so they are not easy to see.


  • Waxwing. A bird with beautiful plumage and a singing voice. In summer it feeds mainly on insects and likes to settle in coniferous forests. In winter, the waxwing moves to more southern regions of the country and is often found in cities. In the cold season, rowan and other fruits become the main food for birds.


  • Jay. A large bird, which, however, can fly to feast on a feeder hung by people. In the summer it is rarely seen in the city, but closer to winter the bird begins to reach out to human habitation.


  • Kinglet. One of the smallest birds, the weight of an adult male is only 5-7 grams. Kinglets are relatives of sparrows.


Kinglet - forest dweller
  • . A large bird that is a favorite trophy for many hunters. Pheasants can fly, but most often move on foot.


  • Grouse. It is also an object of hunting, despite the fact that this bird is quite small. The weight of an adult hazel grouse rarely reaches 500 g. Interestingly, the largest population of these birds lives in Russia.


The hazel grouse is a bird that is related to the black grouse
  • Another bird that is related to hunting. Black grouse are found at the edge of the forest and in the forest-steppe.


  • Falcon. It is considered one of the smartest birds on the planet and one of the best hunters. The falcon is capable of working in tandem with a person, but it is very difficult to tame it.


  • . Like the falcon, it is a bird of prey. A hawk's vision is 8 times sharper than a human's. And rushing after prey, the hawk can reach speeds of up to 240 km/h.


Migratory and nomadic birds: list, photos with names

  • Rooks differ from crows in having a gray-yellow beak. In Kuban and Ukraine, you can see how in the fall rooks gather in huge flocks, so large that the sky seems black from the birds soaring in it - these are rooks that fly south. However, rooks are classified as migratory birds only conditionally, some of them remain to winter in central Russia, some winter in Ukraine, and only some birds fly to the warm shores of Turkey for the winter.


  • They really like to fly to freshly dug ground, sometimes they fly right behind a plowing tractor in order to have time to get as many worms and larvae as possible from the dug up ground.


  • This inconspicuous bird with a singing voice loves warmth, and therefore flies south in the fall. And for wintering, our native nightingales chose hot Africa. These birds fly to the eastern part of the continent - Kenya and Ethiopia - for the winter. However, local residents cannot enjoy their singing, because nightingales sing only during the mating season, which takes place in their homeland.


  • Martin. Swallows love rocky terrain; they often settle on the steep walls of quarries that people have dug. However, our winters are too harsh for swallows and therefore in the fall they fly to the southern part of Africa, far from us, or to Tropical Asia.


  • Chizh. Like the rook, it is a migratory bird that arrives early and winters nearby: in the Caucasus, Kazakhstan and southern Europe. Externally, siskins are inconspicuous, their gray-green feathers are absolutely not noticeable against the background of the branches. The bird's temperament matches its appearance: quiet and meek.


  • Goldfinch. In Europe it is a wintering bird, however, in Russia goldfinches can only be seen in summer. By winter, goldfinches gather in flocks and move to lands with a warmer climate. Goldfinches are close relatives of siskins.


The goldfinch is one of the most colorful birds
  • A slender bird that runs quickly along the ground and shakes its tail with every step. Wagtails spend the winter in eastern Africa, southern Asia, and sometimes southern Europe.


  • Quail. The only bird from the Galliformes order that is migratory. The weight of an adult quail is not so large and amounts to 80-150 g. In summer, quails can be found in fields sown with wheat and rye. Quails winter far beyond the borders of our homeland: in southern Africa and southern Asia, on the Hindustan Peninsula.


  • Thrush. The song thrush, with its sweet trills, creates worthy competition for the nightingale. And his appearance, like that of the nightingale, is inconspicuous. In winter, blackbirds become Europeans: Italy, France and Spain are their second homeland.


  • Lark. Larks return from warm countries very early; sometimes already in March you can hear their sonorous song, which becomes a harbinger of spring warmth. And larks spend the winter in Southern Europe.


  • Gull. With the onset of cold weather, seagulls living on the coasts of the northern seas migrate to the Black and Caspian Seas. But over the years, seagulls are increasingly drawn to people, and increasingly remain to spend the winter in cities.


  • . Swifts winter in Africa, and fly to its equatorial part or even go to the southern part of the continent.


  • Starlings really need birdhouses, since most often they breed their offspring in them. And our starlings go to Southern Europe and East Africa for the winter.




This bizarre black cloud is a flock of starlings returning home
  • Finch. Finches from the western part of the country winter mainly in Central Europe and the Mediterranean, and finches that live near the Urals in the summer go to winter in Southern Kazakhstan and the southern regions of Asia.


Chaffinch - a noisy inhabitant of the forest
  • Heron. It is quite difficult to determine where herons spend the winter; some of them travel huge distances to South Africa, some winter in the Crimea or the Kuban, and in the Stavropol Territory, herons sometimes even remain for the winter.


  • Crane. These birds are monogamous, and once having chosen a partner, they remain faithful to him throughout their lives. Cranes settle in swampy areas. And their wintering places are as diverse as those of herons: Southern Europe, Africa and even China - in all these parts of the world you can find cranes that have flown from Russia to spend the winter.


  • Stork. In Russia there are black and white storks. White storks build huge nests, up to one and a half meters wide, and make very long flights to the south. Sometimes they cross half the planet and reach South Africa, a country located in the very south of Africa.


  • Swan. The swan is a bird that represents devotion and romance. Swans are waterfowl, so for wintering they choose places near water, often the Caspian or Mediterranean Sea.


  • Duck. Wild ducks, as a rule, do not fly far in winter and remain in the vast expanses of post-Soviet states. It is noteworthy that their domestic relatives also begin to worry in the fall and sometimes try to fly away, sometimes they even fly over fences and fly short distances.


  • . Cuckoos live in forests, forest-steppe, and steppe. The vast majority of cuckoos fly to tropical and South Africa for the winter; less commonly, cuckoos winter in South Asia: India and China.


  • . A small bird with a singing voice and bright plumage that flies to the tropics for the winter.


  • . They wake up at dawn and are among the first to start the morning song. This little songbird used to be called a robin. Robins fly to Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to spend the winter and are among the first to return home.


What is the difference between migratory birds and wintering birds: presentation for preschoolers





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Slide 3: presentation of migratory birds

















Why do migratory birds fly to warmer regions where they spend the winter, and why do they come back?

Winter is a harsh test for birds. And only those who can get food for themselves in harsh conditions remain to spend the winter.



What could be the ways for birds to survive in the cold season?

  • Some birds store food for the winter in the summer. They hide plant seeds, nuts, acorns, caterpillars and larvae in grass and cracks in tree bark. Such birds include the nuthatch.
  • Some birds are not afraid of people and live near residential buildings. In winter, they find food in feeders and garbage heaps.
  • Some birds are predators and feed on rodents. There are birds of prey that can feed on hares, hunt fish, small birds and bats.


If a bird can find food for itself in winter, it means it does not need to go on a tedious and difficult flight to warmer climes in the fall.



It would seem that everything is simple, and the only reason for the seasonal migration of birds is the lack of food. But in reality there are more questions here than answers. For example, imagine that a wild duck, which is a migratory bird, is provided with an artificially heated pond and a sufficient amount of food. Will she stay for the winter? Of course not. She will be called on a long journey by a strong feeling that is difficult to explain, called natural instinct.



It turns out that birds fly to warmer regions, as if out of habit, because their ancestors did this for hundreds and thousands of years.



Another question that requires an answer: why do birds return from warm countries every spring? Ornithological scientists have concluded that the beginning of the return flight is associated with the activation of sex hormones and the beginning of the breeding season. But why do birds fly thousands of kilometers and hatch their chicks exactly where they were born? Poets and romantic people say that birds, like people, are simply drawn to their homeland.

How do migratory birds know where to fly? A question to which to this day there is no clear answer. It has been experimentally proven that birds can navigate in completely unfamiliar terrain and in conditions of limited visibility, when neither the sun nor the stars are visible. They have an organ that allows them to navigate the Earth's magnetic field.

But the mystery remains how young individuals, who have never flown to warm regions before, find their own wintering place, and how do they know the route to fly? It turns out that in birds, at the genetic level, information about the point on the map where you need to fly is recorded and, moreover, a route to it is drawn.



Do migratory birds build nests in the south?

Birds wintering in warm regions do not lay eggs or hatch chicks, which means they do not need a nest. Only chicks that migratory birds will hatch in their homeland need a nest.



Which birds are the first and last to arrive in spring?

They arrive first in the spring rooks. These birds return to their homeland in early spring, when the first thawed patches in the snow appear. With their strong beaks, rooks dig out larvae in such thawed areas, which form the basis of their diet.

The last to arrive are the birds, which feed on flying insects. These are swallows, swifts, and orioles. The diet of these birds consists of:

  • Komarov
  • Moshek
  • Horseflies
  • Zhukov
  • Cicadas
  • Butterflies

Since the emergence of a large number of adult flying insects from larvae requires warm weather and about two weeks of time, the birds that feed on them fly to their homeland after the mass appearance of these insects.



Which birds are the first and last to fly away in the fall?

With the onset of autumn cold weather, insects complete their active life cycle and hibernate. Therefore, the birds that feed on insects are the first to fly to warmer climes. Then the birds fly away and feed on the plants. Waterfowl are the last to fly away. There is enough food in the water for them even in autumn. And they fly away before the water in reservoirs begins to freeze.

VIDEO: Birds fly south

What flock of migratory birds promises snow?

According to popular belief, if a flock of wild ones flew south geese— you need to wait for the first snow to fall. This sign may not coincide with real weather phenomena. So in the north of Russia, geese fly to warmer climes in mid-September, and snow can fall much earlier. Let's say the first snow in Norilsk this year fell on August 25th. In the south, geese fly to warmer climes at the end of October, and sometimes even at the beginning of November. The first snow in these areas may occur around this time. But it all depends on the weather conditions in autumn. Indian summer here can last throughout October.

VIDEO: Geese gather in flocks to fly south

Which bird from the order Galliformes is migratory?

A migratory bird from the order Galliformes is quail. The quail's habitat extends beyond Russia in the west and south. In the east, these birds live up to the western coast of Lake Baikal. They are widespread in Europe, Western Asia and Africa.



For the winter they fly south. And they winter in Hindustan, Northern Africa and South-West Asia.

VIDEO: How do migratory birds fly?

    For central Russia, Wikipedia lists 59 species of birds that regularly fly from their nesting sites to wintering sites and back. The most interesting of them:

    • Rook - arrives in early spring (depending on the area from February to April), when there is still snow.
    • Cuckoo - winters in tropical Africa, flies from there to Europe in early March. But since it moves slowly (80 km per day), it appears in central Europe only towards the end of April.
    • Drozd - arrives in the tenth of April (to the Urals later - in the twentieth). It starts singing immediately upon arrival and ends in mid-July.
  • Birds that arrive in the spring are, by their name from their flights, migratory. That is, in winter they fly away, and in spring they fly back.

    Here is their scientific description in essence:

    But in the group that is on the right and designates them as migratory, their brightest and most famous representatives are:

    It is so arranged that birds often fly from place to place, this is due to changes in weather conditions.

    The earliest to arrive are the wagtails; they can be seen as soon as the snow begins to melt.

    Then the rooks follow.

    Then you can see starlings and larks, who delight us with their singing. In spring, swallows come to us. They build nests and hatch chicks.

    Many birds leave their home before the onset of cold weather and fly away to other (warm) regions for the winter. These are: swallows, rooks, nightingales, thrushes, starlings, geese, swans, larks.

    All of them belong to the so-called migratory birds. In the spring they fly to their native lands (places).

    And there is also a group of birds (feathered birds) that do not fly anywhere in winter: sparrows, crows, magpies, etc.

    In the spring, many migratory birds arrive in the Kyiv region of Ukraine.

    These include lark, swallow, starling, thrush, cuckoo, white stork, gray heron, wild duck, coot, wild goose, swan, hen harrier, white wagtail, oriole, redstart, and chaffinch.

    The answer to the first half of the question is

    The spring arrival of birds lasts up to one and a half months. During this time, more than fifty species of birds fly to the territory of Russia from warm countries in order to breed offspring.

    Among them, the main, most famous ones are -

    • Finch.
    • Rook.
    • Nightingale.
    • Oriole.
    • Shakyguska.
    • Crane.
    • Starling.
    • Tit.
    • Lark.

    But with the second half of the question, it was not easy

    I didn’t find any birds that literally fly away somewhere away from us in the spring... There is another category of birds - wintering

    It may seem that, for example, Bullfinches are flying away somewhere for the summer. However, they lead a sedentary lifestyle, and the fact that we do not see them in the summer does not mean that they have flown far. They are nearby (relatively) - in the forests and fields next to us. In winter, when the food supply in the forests becomes scarce, bullfinches appear near human habitation, and it seems to us that they arrive in winter. Along with Bullfinches, in winter we can see Crossbills next to us (which even hatch their chicks in winter) but also do not fly away to warmer climes.

    The rooks are the first to arrive in the spring; in some years they arrive as early as April. At the same time, birds that came for the winter from the central regions begin to migrate north. At this time, many birds die from sudden frosts.

    Typically, reference books give an approximate number of the most common migratory birds in Russia - about 60. An even larger number of species remain for the winter, or are classified as nomadic birds. Nomadic birds include all northern and tundra species, which with the onset of winter spread throughout Russia. For example, the white polar owl, which in summer lives exclusively in the tundra in winter, is found everywhere up to the Caucasus. There are about 70 such nomadic and wintering species. The very first migratory birds returning from the south are rooks, which appear in mid-March and bring spring on their wings. At the same time, starlings, larks, and finches arrive. Our ancestors often judged the coming spring by which bird arrived earlier. So they interpreted the early arrival of the finches as a long and cold spring, and when the larks flew ahead, this meant that the spring would be warm and friendly.

    In the spring, cranes come to us, and in September they fly away.

    Larks and starlings arrive. With abnormal warming, swallows may arrive very early, in mid-April, although the usual time for swallows to arrive is in mid-May.

    In Russia, about fifty-nine species of different birds fly long distances every year with the onset of warm weather conditions.

Nature has designed the way of life of birds in such a way that many of them constantly migrate from one habitat to another, and this happens due to changing weather conditions. Since the temperature regime greatly affects the life activity and reproduction of birds, they usually leave their native lands when winter comes, and return back in the spring, in March-May.

Arrival of birds after wintering always means one thing: the cold has retreated and given way to warmth. And here many people become interested in finding out which birds arrive first in the spring.

Which birds arrive first?

Many people do not even suspect that all migratory birds follow a certain arrival schedule, and each species strictly follows it. It is also interesting that they all return to their previous place of residence and even to their previously built nests. If something happened to the nest during the absence of the feathered owners, then the latter settle down anew, after which they breed offspring in them.

So, In what order do spring birds arrive?

What other birds arrive in spring?

Speaking about spring feathered messengers, we should not forget about such like the nightingale and the swallow.

First, it’s worth talking about nightingales, because these are the ones that are recognizable by how wonderfully they can sing. And despite its very inconspicuous appearance (this bird is gray with a brownish tint), the nightingale has a charming voice that fascinates everyone without exception.

Another bright symbol of spring is swallows. These birds cannot sing like nightingales, but they love to settle closer to people, often setting up their nests in the entryways, under balconies and eaves of houses. They can also often be seen in gorges above rivers.

Arrival calendar of spring birds

For many, many years, people have been watching the arrival of birds from the warm regions of their native places, and ornithologists, thanks to scientific research, We were able to create a bird arrival calendar:

  • from March 18 to 20, rooks return;
  • March 25-April 6 - starlings arrive;
  • April 1-10 - during this period, finches, larks, swans and thrushes arrive;
  • April 11-20 - ducks and geese, cranes and seagulls return to their native lands;
  • end of April - redstarts, tree pipits, chiffchaffs;
  • first half of May - swallows and flycatchers arrive;
  • in mid-May, swifts and nightingales usually return;
  • the orioles return at the end of May.

In addition to certain periods of time during which birds return to their native lands, there are also certain routes along which they travel.

Interesting signs associated with the arrival of birds in spring

Arrival of spring birds - this is always a sign that winter has receded and spring and warm weather are ahead. And for a long time their certain behavior has been associated with certain signs, for example:

It is with the melting of snow and the cheerful whistling of birds marks the arrival of spring. Schoolchildren begin making birdhouses during craft lessons, and the first swallow's nests begin to appear under the roofs of houses.