Owl (white, eared, marsh, hawk). Order of birds of prey, including more than 420 large and medium-sized species, mostly nocturnal birds. The order consists of two families: true owls and barn owls. Brief description: large head, big round eyes at the front of the head, short, predatory beak.
Pink Starling. Its head has a long hanging crest at the back, the neck from the front to the chest, and the back to the beginning of the neck are black, with a dark purple sheen. The wings, tail, upper and lower coverts of the tail, along with the lower part of the thigh, are black with a steel green sheen. All other plumage is pink. The beak is pink-red, and the legs are pinkish-brown. In behavior, it undoubtedly resembles our common starling in many ways, but it differs significantly in many
Sizovoronka. A bird of the sizovoronkov family. It inhabits sparse old forests, edges, clearings, glades, along railways and highways, power lines, and is found in old parks and groves. Length up to 35 cm, weight up to 160 grams. The main color of the plumage is bluish-green, with a reddish-brown back. Among the modestly colored birds, the sizovoronka stands out with its special beauty. It seems to have brought enchanting colors from the distant south, the brilliant blue of the sky, and the
Pogonys. A small bird, slightly smaller than a corncrake, measuring 21-25 cm in length and weighing 80-130 g. The plumage is mottled and generally darker than that of the corncrake Pogonys. The head and the front part of the neck are lead-gray, with frequent light speckles. The upper part of the body and wings are dark brown or olive, with small white and large black spots. The belly is lighter—ochre, sometimes with rare small spots. The undertail is reddish. The wings are short, slightly
Grebes — Family Podicipedidae (little grebe, black-necked grebe, red-necked grebe, gray-cheeked grebe, great crested grebe). They are a family of waterfowl. It includes 22 species, three of which are extinct. The Russian name "поганка" (poganka) comes from the unpleasant taste of their meat, which has an unpleasant fishy smell. The sizes of grebes range from 23 to 74 cm, with an average weight of 120 to 1500 g. There are two main types of grebes: those with long, sharp beaks that
Common Quail, A bird of the pheasant family from the order of galliformes. Body length 16-20 cm, weight 80-145 g. Plumage is ochre in color, with the top of the head, back, rump, and upper tail coverts having dark and light brown transverse stripes and spots; there is a reddish stripe behind the eyes, and the throat is reddish. The male has dark reddish cheeks, a reddish throat, and a black chin and throat. The female differs from the male by having a pale ochre chin and throat and the
Green Warbler. A small, delicate, active, and very cheerful bird. The top of the head and back are green, the underside is yellowish, and there is one light transverse stripe on the wing. A narrow yellow stripe runs from the base of the beak to the nape. The green warbler is a common, sometimes numerous migratory bird that nests in various habitats. It inhabits spruce, fir, larch, pine, mixed forests, and occasionally birch groves at altitudes up to 1900 m in Altai and 2700-2800 m in Tien
Pegan. A large waterfowl of the duck family (weight 1.0-1.5 kg) characterized by distinctive plumage with a combination of white, reddish, gray, and black colors. On the main white background, the black head and reddish-brown band across the chest stand out. The bill is red, with a bulge on the forehead in males. It swims well, and only the chicks dive. It flies silently. During migration, it travels in large flocks, in a wedge or an expanded front. The voice is a dull, soft quacking like
Pastushok A small bird (weighing up to 170 g), it runs excellently and is closely associated with coastal shrub and grass thickets. Its body is spindle-shaped, strongly compressed from the sides. The back is olive-brown with black stripes, the neck and chest are gray, the rear part of the belly is ochre, while the middle of the belly and sides are covered with transverse stripes (wide black and narrow white). The legs are reddish-yellow, and the eye is orange-red. The beak is long, slightly
Osayed (common, crested). A daytime predator of the hawk family from the falconiformes order. A rather rare bird. The osayed got its name because it destroys wasp nests and eats their larvae. Besides them, it can feed on bumblebee or wild bee larvae. It also eats frogs, lizards, rodents, beetles, grasshoppers, and small birds. A large bird with a relatively long tail and narrow wings. The wingspan is about 1.2 m. There are short, stiff feathers on the forehead and around the eyes that resemble
Dipper This remarkable diving bird lives along the banks of mountain, fast-flowing rivers and streams. The dipper somewhat resembles thrushes, but it has a very short tail. These small songbirds are capable of diving into icy holes even in winter. It is the size of a small thrush, but more robust. It has a short tail, playfully raised upwards. The top of its head, wings, and tail are dark brown, while its back is aspid gray. Against the overall very dark coloration (almost black on the back,
Ogar. A large duck (weight 1.2–1.6 kg) with a rusty-red coloration and an ochre-white head. The flight feathers, tail, beak, and legs are black. It walks well on land. It also swims well, but rarely dives. It flies quickly. A noisy bird. In flight, it emits a ringing, guttural, and mournful "ang... ang." The female hisses in the nest when danger approaches. For most of the year, these ducks stay in pairs. Ogar usually nests in the burrows of foxes or badgers, but often in abandoned
Red-nosed Diving Duck. A rather peculiar duck, biologically considered a transitional form between true, or river, ducks and diving ducks. Its flight is lighter than that of diving ducks; it flies more willingly and longer than they do, and during the mating season, it also flies as long and often as true ducks. It often comes to the shore to feed, moves on land significantly more freely than diving ducks, and when necessary, runs quite quickly. It swims well but dives less frequently and not
Common Myna. Their body plumage is brown-chocolate in color, while the head, neck, wings, and tail are black. The tips of the wings, tail, and undertail coverts are white. There are bright yellow fleshy growths on the sides and behind the eyes, which are sometimes referred to as "ears," and because of these, the mynas are called ear-starlings. Originally widespread in South Asia, they are now also found in Central Asia. The fact that they often settle near human habitation helps them
Eurasian Coot About the size of a medium duck, it weighs between 600 and 1000 grams. The Eurasian coot is easily recognized by its uniform dark coloration and the white frontal shield, from which it gets its name. The coot is more closely associated with water than other species of our marsh birds, rarely coming ashore; when threatened, it dives into the water and hides in the reeds. The coot swims well but dives poorly. It takes off from the water with difficulty, always against the wind; it
The Mute Swan is the largest representative of the order Weight is 7-13 kg, with park birds reaching up to 15 kg. The length, including the neck, can reach 160 cm, and the wingspan can be up to 240 cm. The plumage is white, with an often developed ochreous coating on the head and neck, which arises from the deposition of oxides dissolved in water. The main characteristic is that adult birds have a red bill, with a black bump on the forehead and a black base, a bridle, a velvety bump above the
Partridge (gray, bearded) — widely distributed species. Description of the bearded partridge: Very similar to the gray partridge, but differs at close range by having a black, rather than brown, abdominal spot, and a light reddish color on the chest alongside gray. Additionally, there is a black stripe under the eye across the cheek. In autumn and winter, both males and females have elongated feathers on the sides of the throat — a "beard." Seasonal changes in coloration are minor;
Kurgannik Mohnonogiy - a rare Central Asian mountain-steppe species. It is found in mountains and plains, in dry steppe areas. It is a sedentary or partially migratory species. A predatory bird of the hawk family, measuring from 57 to 67 cm in length, with a wingspan of 143 to 161 cm. Males are one-fifth smaller than females. It closely resembles a buzzard. There are light and dark morphs, differing in the amount of reddish-brown feathers. The legs are partially covered with feathers and fine
Cuckoo - a bird of the cuckoo family. Externally resembles a small hawk. The total length reaches 32-34 cm, wingspan 55-65 cm, weight up to 80-190 g. An adult male has the entire upper side of its body, including the head, colored dark gray. The throat and crop are also gray, but of a lighter ash shade. The belly is white, with dark transverse stripes. The tail feathers have white tips and spots along the shafts. It lives in light forests and gardens. It is beneficial, feeding on insects and
Mallard - a large duck. Males weigh 1.0-1.3 kg in spring, up to 1.7 kg in autumn. The male has a black head with a greenish sheen, a chestnut-colored breast, and a black tail. Distinctive features include a yellow or yellow-green bill, orange legs, often brownish-orange, and a blue speculum; the female has a pinkish bill with a dark center. The male in summer plumage resembles the female, but has a yellow-green bill. In a flying bird, white stripes on the wings are clearly visible. Takeoff and
Black Kite A medium-sized bird of prey, about 1.5 times larger than a crow, widely distributed. The kite that inhabits our region is called black, but in reality, its plumage is dark brown, with a lighter underside featuring reddish tones. It has a noticeable "notch" on its tail. The overall length is 50–60 cm, weight is 800–1100 g, wing length is 41–51 cm, and wingspan is 140–155 cm. Females are slightly larger than males. The coloration of adult birds (two years and older) on the
Corncrake - Crex crex A small bird measuring 22-25 cm in length and weighing about 150 g. It resembles a rail in size and body shape. The plumage on the upper part of the body is light reddish, with dark mottling. The top of the head, primary flight feathers of the wings, and tail feathers are chestnut with dark centers and gray tips. The sides are reddish-ochre with white transverse stripes. The chin and the front of the neck are light gray. The beak is short, strong, and reddish-brown in
Field Grasshopper. Slightly smaller than a sparrow, approximately the size of a forest grasshopper, with a longer beak, somewhat more slender body, and longer legs. Body length is 16–19 cm, wingspan is 26–30 cm, and weight is 18–27 g. It is distinguished from other grasshoppers by its light, uniform coloration and almost complete absence of spots. It moves on the ground by walking or running, sometimes slightly bobbing its tail up and down. A characteristic behavior when inspecting its
Common Nightjar - a nocturnal bird. Its back is brownish-gray, with darker mottling and blackish longitudinal stripes, and a rusty hue. The belly is ochre-brown, with blackish-brown transverse thin stripes. There are two white spots on the throat. On the inner web of the first three primary flight feathers, there is a large white spot, and white tips are also present on the two outer pairs of tail feathers. The common nightjar is a migratory bird. It inhabits the edges of forests, steppes, and
Kobchik – a small-sized falcon It resembles a kestrel in its proportions and lifestyle but differs from it with its narrow wings. The body length of the bird ranges from 28 to 33 cm, wing length is 23-35 cm, wingspan is from 65 to 77 cm, and weight is between 130 to 197 g. The beak is short and weak. The male is dark bluish (almost black) with a brick-red underside of the belly, undertail, and "trousers." The female is ochre with a gray back featuring a transverse stripe, wings, and
Keklik (Rock Partridge) Family Phasianidae. In external appearance and body structure, the keklik closely resembles the common gray partridge but is significantly larger. Its plumage is more vibrant. The overall tone is smoky gray with a bluish-pink hue. A black stripe runs from the forehead through the eyes and around the front of the neck. The beak, the eye-ring, and the legs are bright red. They are characterized by a compact body, short neck, large head with a short curved beak,
Kwakva Resembles a bittern, length up to 60 cm. It has a shorter neck compared to other herons and a short but strong and powerful beak. Its legs are also shorter than those of other herons. The male in breeding plumage has a black cap with a greenish sheen and a back of the same color. The wings are gray. The wing length is 26-30 cm. The belly and sides are white. In spring, 2-4 long narrow white feathers grow on the back of the head. The beak is black, and the legs, with long toes, are
Karavaika - a bird from the ibis family. It measures 48-66 cm in length, weighs 500-580 g, and has a wingspan of 80-95 cm. Adult birds are dark brown with a bronze and green metallic sheen. The bare part of the head is small, dark in color, and bordered by narrow white stripes. The beak, legs, and iris are dark. In autumn and winter, the plumage is duller, with white speckles appearing on the neck, head, and chest. Young birds are brown without sheen, with white streaking on the head and neck
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). A predatory bird the size of a buzzard. Body length is 51—57 cm, wingspan is 110—130 cm. Females are generally larger than males. The weight of males is about 600 g, females up to one kg. The wings are quite short. The tail is striped, short, and rounded. The coloration varies greatly, from pale to dark brown. The flight is relatively slow. It spots prey from the air, soaring for long periods, sometimes stopping and "shaking" its wings in place, similar
Eurasian Golden Oriole - Family Oriolidae Slightly larger than a starling (body length about 25 cm). The male is bright yellow, with black wings, tail, and a "bridle" — a stripe running from the base of the beak to the eye. There are yellow spots on the sides of the black tail, the beak is red, and the iris is carmine-red. The female and chicks have a yellowish-green upper body and a yellowish-white underside with brown longitudinal streaks. The voice is a beautiful flute-like
The kingfisher is a small, beautiful bird, slightly smaller than a starling. Once you see it, you will never confuse it with any other bird. In Kyrgyzstan, kingfishers are especially common on the Sokuluk River at the point where it merges with the Ak-Suu River, downstream from the village of Belovodskoye. This small bird, with its bright, tropical plumage, immediately attracts attention. It looks like a precious gem. The upper side of its body is dark blue. There is an ochre stripe under the
Winter Hawk - a bird of the Accipitridae family It resembles a buzzard in build, but is somewhat larger, with longer wings and a longer tail. The predominant coloration on the underside is pale buff, very light. A characteristic element of the wing's underside coloration is small mottling on the wing coverts, a large dark brown spot at the bend of the wing, and dark tips on the primaries, forming a wide border along the trailing edge of the wing; there are also 2-4 narrow stripes on the
Gray Crane. A large bird, about 115 cm tall, with a wingspan of 180—200 cm; the male weighs up to 6 kg, and the female up to 5 kg 900 g. The plumage of most of the body is bluish-gray, which allows the bird to camouflage itself from enemies in wooded areas. The back and undertail are somewhat darker, while the wings and belly are lighter. The tips of the wings are black. The front of the head, chin, upper neck, and nape are black or dark gray.
Ruddy-tailed Shrike - a representative of the shrike family Slightly larger than a sparrow (about 20 cm long, weighing around 30 g). The plumage is dominated by reddish and light tones. The shrike has a distinctive black stripe along its eyes; by the way, the eyes themselves are also dark, with the iris blending into the sclera. The beak is medium-sized, slightly curved, which is characteristic of all predators. The beak color is dark gray. Males are brighter than females. The ruddy-tailed
Crested Lark. Slightly larger than a sparrow. It differs from other species of larks by the elongated feathers in the middle part of the crown, forming a pointed crest. The beak is quite long (about 17—20 mm) and more slender than that of the field lark, slightly curved; the nostrils are covered with feathers. The first primary feather is very short, not reaching the end of the coverts. The wing is formed by the 2nd to 5th primary feathers (the first is abortive). The tail is slightly notched.
Derbnik. A small stocky falcon with relatively short pointed wings and a long tail. The body length is 24—32 cm, and the wingspan is 53—73 cm. Females are on average one third larger than males—their weight ranges from 160—311 g, while males weigh only 125—235 g. The coloration also differs. Males have a bluish back with a purple or brown tint, and their head, nape, and shoulders are adorned with black longitudinal streaks. The belly ranges from beige to reddish with longitudinal streaks of
Ringed Dove Smaller and much slimmer than the blue dove, approximately the size of a common dove. The upper body and folded wings are sand-colored, the head and chest are grayish-red with a pleasant pink hue. It differs from the common and large doves by the absence of dark mottling on the back and wing coverts; the upper side is uniform, the underwing is light; there is an elegant narrow black semicircle on the back of the neck with a white edging. The white color on the tail occupies about
Large Turtle Dove. The total body length is 340–345 mm, and the wingspan is 590–600 mm. The head is dark gray, the back of the head, neck, and front of the back are gray-brown, sometimes with a pinkish-wine tint. The throat and chin are creamy-white. There are black feathers with bluish edges on the sides of the neck. The crop, chest, and front part of the belly are pinkish-wine in color with an ochre tint. The rest of the belly and the undertail are white. The tail is dark gray with a white
Alpine chough (lat. Pyrrhocorax graculus) — a bird of the crow family. Permanent residents of mountain ranges. It inhabits alpine meadows and exposed rocks in the mountainous regions of Eurasia and North Africa at altitudes from 1260 to 5000 m above sea level. They nest in small colonies on cliffs and precipices, and enjoy gathering in large flocks. A sighting of a flock of these birds near the summit of Everest not only indicates that they can fly even higher if necessary, but also confirms
Vyahir. The largest representative among our pigeons, weighing between 420–620 g. The overall coloration is bluish, darker on the head and neck, lighter on the belly. There is an ochre necklace on the sides of the neck; the sides and back of the neck have a metallic green and pinkish-red sheen. The throat and chest are bluish-wine-red. The tail is aspid-gray, lightening towards the tip to bluish, with a wide aspid-colored band at the tip of the tail. The base of the beak is red, with a yellow
Bittern (Great, Little) - Kol bukasy, Kidik kol buka The bittern is a common name for a number of birds in the subfamily Botaurinae of the heron family. The Russian name is related to the words "to howl" and "to wail" — the loud voice of representatives of the genus Great Bitterns (lat. Botaurus) resembles the roar of a bull (for this same feature, the great bittern is called "bugay" in Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian, meaning bull or water bull). The little
Raven - the largest representative of passerine birds The body length reaches 60—70 cm, wingspan 120—150 cm, weight 800—1600 g (according to other data, up to 2000 g). Other characteristic features include a very massive, high, and sharp beak, and elongated feathers on the throat (the so-called "beard"). A bird flying high can be identified by its longer and narrower wings compared to other ravens, as well as its wedge-shaped tail. A soaring raven makes less frequent wing beats than
Saker Falcon. A large falcon, usually with reddish-yellow tones in its plumage. It has quite large dimensions, reaching up to 60 cm in length. It weighs between one and one and a half kilograms. The wingspan can range from 1 to 1.5 m. Females are larger than males, but they do not differ in appearance. Sexual dimorphism is very weakly expressed. The Saker Falcon has a rather colorful plumage. Gray individuals with a white tint or brown ones with a reddish tint are more commonly encountered.
Great Cormorant A large, goose-sized, aquatic bird with almost entirely black plumage, an elongated beak with a hook. The underside of the "face" is white, and during the breeding season, there are more or less abundant narrow white feathers on the head and upper neck, which fall out already during the incubation period. In breeding plumage, there is a white spot on the body in the thigh area. In autumn plumage, the top of the head and neck are black, with no white spots on the
Kyrgyz Skink, or Nikolsky's Skink A medium-sized lizard with a body length of up to 80 mm. It is characterized by a slender, elongated body, with the tail making up at least 2/3 of its length. Brightly colored, especially in young individuals. In adult skinks, the main background color of the upper body gradually turns gray, sandy, or olive-gray, with dark longitudinal stripes breaking into spots, and the light spots with dark edging located on the sides of the body at chest level turning
Common Shieldnose, or Pallas's Shieldnose Shieldnoses are reptiles that belong to the family of pit vipers. Unlike most terrestrial vertebrates, shieldnoses have not only standard sensory organs but also specialized ones that allow them to detect thermal radiation.
Water Snake, or as it is popularly known - "chess viper" is often found in proximity to the common water snake and inhabits both flowing and stagnant water bodies. The snout of the water snake is more pointed compared to the common one, and there are no yellow-orange spots on the sides of its head. Due to this last feature, it is often confused with venomous snakes such as the common viper and the steppe viper. The pattern on the back of the water snake, which vaguely resembles the
Arrow Snake. A very elegant, slender, and long snake, up to 50 cm in length. The narrow head is poorly defined from the neck; its length is more than twice its width. The pupil is round. The upper surface of the snout is slightly concave, and its lateral edges are noticeably pointed. The upper part of the body is olive-gray, sandy-gray, or brownish-gray. Along the entire body, there are 4 stripes starting from the shields of the head, dark with black edges, often absent or preserved only as
