Common grosbeak (lat. Coccothraustes coccothraustes) refers to the species of birds of the passerine order, family of finches.
Description
The grosbeak has a dense compact body, a rather impressive head, a small tail, wings of medium length and the main advantage: a massive conical beak. The bird has a pleasant contrasting coloration, which catches the eye, especially in the spring. Grosbeak has significant sexual dimorphism: the feathers of males on the back are usually brownish, the chest is chestnut, and the wings are dark blue with a bright white edging strip. Females of this species are painted in an uncommonly calmer manner, in dull tones with a small pattern, and young individuals do not differ in such contrasting plumage at all.
Appearance
The grosbeak is a medium-sized bird (its length does not exceed 18 cm), the distinguishing feature of which is a massive bluish-gray beak: it is perfectly adapted to feed on the bones of a wide variety of fruits and berries. The plumage of males is brownish-chestnut, with a reddish tint, with a black throat patch, wings and tail plumage.
Lifestyle
Dubossus is a rather numerous species, but its prevalence is very sporadic and secretive: representatives of this species are very difficult to notice or track. The bird prefers mature mixed or deciduous forest thickets for habitat, especially respecting beech or oak. At the time of feeding sits quite quietly, preferring to stay in the crown of trees at a considerable height.
Dubonos is a very cautious bird, distinguished by unusual quick wit and courage, which is why it has long turned into a scourge of gardeners, providing real raids on garden and garden plantings, sometimes completely destroying the entire crop.
Where do they live
The habitat of the grosbeak is deciduous, mixed and even coniferous forests in Eurasia. This bird can be found in city parks, and in gardens, and even in vineyards, as well as other plantings, and quite often in the immediate vicinity of a human habitat. The grosbeak is especially attracted to old gardens, the edges of oak forests and cemetery areas. Some species of grosbeak also reached America, both North and Central.
The common grosbeak has a wide distribution throughout the continent (from the British Isles to Asia, including Japan and Alaska), but does not like to go too far north or northwest. For this reason, it is much less common in the Scandinavian countries.
During the migration period, birds of this species reach the territory of Morocco, Algeria and Turkey. If we talk about the central strip of Eurasia, then the grosbeak lives here regularly; it is distributed both in the Caucasus and in the Crimea, and its habitat reaches Primorye and Kamchatka.
What do they eat
If you focus on the name of this species, then you can understand that it is a thick and strong beak that plays a huge role in its nutrition. Its characteristic structure provides the grosbeak with the ability to easily and effortlessly split the hardest fruits of hazel, oak, cherry, cherry plum. That is why the bird prefers to settle near plantations (gardens, parks), which provide it with the opportunity to enjoy its favorite food to its fullest. The grosbeak uses its dexterous and powerful beak very effectively in the fields of corn or sunflowers. Preferring seeds, the bird, however, will not refuse to feast on representatives of the animal world: insects and beetles, caterpillars and beetles. In the spring, buds and young plants are also included in the diet of the grosbeak.
Red Book
This bird is not listed in the Red Book, because it belongs to the species that cause the least concern and do not need special protection measures.
reproduction
The sexual activity of birds of this species is activated along with the course of development of nature in spring. The first birds begin their songs in January, but a full revival can be observed in the month of April.
The process of building nests in these birds usually starts in late spring, and can continue until mid-June. Dubonos prefers to build nests in cozy places in the middle or upper tier of the forest. Its nests are deep bowls up to 22 cm in diameter and about 10 cm high; for their interlacing, the bird uses twigs, roots and other similar coarse building material, lining the litter of dry soft stems or horsehair.
Grosbeak begins to lay eggs at the end of May, usually females lay up to four eggs (less often up to seven). They are distinguished by a pale bluish, greenish or brownish tint, and may also differ in rare dots, spots or other marks of a purple and blue background (very often they even have a halo of dots at the blunt end).
Incubation can last about two weeks, and during this period the male takes care of the female, feeds her, and provides protection. And sometimes it can even replace during incubation to provide her with the opportunity to search for food.
When a brood appears, both parents begin to take care of the babies, feeding the chicks with caterpillars and other food of animal origin: they switch to vegetable food rather late. Within a few weeks, the chicks are capable of independent flight, and at the end of July, you can already meet both fledglings and excellent flying chicks. It is unlikely (but this moment has not been reliably studied) the possibility of creating two clutches during the summer period.
Departure for wintering at the grosbeak begins at the end of summer, beginning of autumn, and until this period the birds stay alone or in small flocks.
Singing
The song of the grosbeak usually consists of crackling throat sounds accompanied by a short call with metallic notes.
