Birds are amazing creatures that amaze us with their diversity, beauty and ability to fly. However, there are also many fictions around them that do not always correspond to reality.

In this article, we'll look at some of the most common misconceptions about birds and try to dispel them with scientific facts.

 

Click the button "FACT" under the picture to find out the truth

 

FICTION

Parrots don't understand what they say

Jaco parrot (grey parrot)

FACT

Scientists wondered how random the phrases spoken by parrots are. The results were amazing: a gray Jaco named Alex not only repeats the sounds of human speech, but uses speech as a communication tool. His vocabulary is more than 300 words, he can count up to 6, distinguishes colors, shapes and materials of objects.

Among parrots capable of onomatopoeia, gray parrots (or gray parrots) are considered the most talented. On average, a bird can remember over 150 words. Jacos often strive to repeat the sounds made by consumer electronics – telephone, intercom or alarm clock. Often they repeat the sounds made by wild birds living on the street. A manual jaco can copy the owner's psychology – that is, his forms of behavior, in particular, expressing joy, care, irritation.

 

 

FICTION

The dove is the bird of the world

Dove

FACT

When people founded cities, the most inventive thought of using pigeons as mail messengers. The bird began to be revered as a messenger of peace and a symbol of purity and happiness.

However, in a flock of pigeons there are invariably leading individuals who can kill a relative they do not like to death. During mating games, in the struggle for possession of a female, one of the rivals, having won, can peck the other to death.

 

 

FICTION

An ostrich hides its head in the sand

Ostrich

FACT

The ostrich often looks out for something on the ground in search of food, bending its head low, and from a distance you really can think that it has buried it in the sand. But when the bird wants not to be noticed, it will fold its legs, lie with its body on the ground and arch its neck above the surface.

More interesting facts about ostriches you will find in our article

 

 

FICTION

Swallows fly low, anticipating the rain

barn swallow

FACT

With a decrease in atmospheric pressure, usually preceding precipitation, insects fly closer to the ground, and swallows, hunting for them, lower their flight altitude. The humidity of the air can also force the insects to fall below, with an increase in which the wings get wet.

 

 

FICTION

Kiwi bird covered in wool

Kiwi bird

FACT

Birds do not grow hair. None. And what from a distance can be mistaken for wool, in fact, feathers, not quite ordinary, but feathers.

The body of the kiwi bird is evenly covered with soft, gray or light brown feathers, more like wool. By the way, the kiwi fruit is named so because the shape and color resembles the body of the bird of the same name.

 

 

FICTION

Before death, the swan sings and its song is beautiful and sad

Swan

FACT

In fact, the voice of the swan resembles the trumpet cry of cranes. He also knows how to hiss and quack, like a duck.

We owe the origin of this beautiful legend to the composite image of a swan as a symbol of beauty and fidelity. For humanity, swans personify beauty, romance, are a symbol of rebirth, purity, nobility and wisdom, which is caused by their monogamy, graceful body construction, the ability to fly and swim.

 

 

FICTION

Crows live over 100 years

common raven

FACT

The popular belief that ravens live for more than a century is not true. These birds are long-lived, but they live less. Crows, like parrots, can reach the age of 70-75 years.

 

 

FICTION

There are no poisonous birds

Pitohui

FACT

It turns out that in the forests of New Guinea there is such a bird, and even two: Pitohui (Pitohui) and Blue-capped ifrit (Ifrita kowaldi). Even a tiger, having eaten one of them, will collapse in paralysis in a couple of minutes, and in another ten minutes it will die.

The skin and feathers of these birds contain the poison batrachotoxin, which causes a feeling of tingling and numbness in the person who touches the bird. The poison in these birds accumulates due to the consumption of poisonous beetles of the genus Choresine. Batrachotoxin has no effect on birds, as their immunity has adapted to it.

 

 

FICTION

Birds flap their wings up and down

Aerodynamics of bird flight

FACT

If that were the case, then even an eagle would not be able to rise above its jump. Taking off from the ground, the bird stands on tiptoe and begins to spread its wings, spreading its flight feathers. At the same time, the wings draw a figure eight in the air, forcing the air under them. At a sufficient height, the wings change – the feathers fold, forming a single plane, the tail changes geometry, the body is extended. All of these are very complex processes.

The aerodynamic pattern of bird flight is complex and is currently known only in general terms. This is due to the fact that in flight there are changes in the position of the flight feathers and changes in the wing area, the carpal and main parts of the wing move at different speeds and at different angles. The nature of flight in individual groups and species is very diverse. Features of the structure of the wings, the length and proportions of the flight feathers, the ratio of the bird's body weight to the area of ​​its wings, the degree of development of the muscles are the decisive factors that determine the features and characteristics of flight in birds.

 

 

FICTION

Bird's milk is a fantasy

Bird's milk (or goiter milk, or pigeon's milk)

FACT

It actually exists, however, it does not look like milk at all, rather like cottage cheese. This expression has been known since ancient times and originates in fairy tales in which a capricious girl sends her suitors for bird's milk, that is, for something that does not exist in the world.

Some of the birds can produce a substance in the crop, which is fed to the chicks immediately after hatching. It, like the milk of mammals, is very nutritious, easy to digest, and in this sense it can really be called milk.

Bird's milk (or goiter milk, or pigeon milk) is characteristic of representatives of the pigeon family, a number of parrots, flamingos and some penguins. In pigeons, goiter milk is secreted by the cells of the goiter, and in flamingos and penguins, it is secreted by special glands in the esophagus and stomach.

Despite its name, goiter milk has nothing to do with real mammalian milk or its ingredients. The composition of "bird's milk" contains a high proportion of fats and proteins, while it, unlike real mammalian milk, does not contain carbohydrates, lactose and calcium.

 

 

FICTION

The hawk is the fastest bird

Peregrine Falcon

FACT

The speed record among birds belongs to the peregrine falcon from the falcon family. The peregrine falcon is considered the fastest animal in the world – during the hunt, namely at the time of a dive, it is able to reach speeds of up to 322 km/h, or 90 m/s. According to the National Geographic television program, the fastest measured speed of a peregrine falcon is 389 km/h (242 mph).

Having found the prey, the peregrine falcon rapidly dives down, hitting it with paws folded and pressed to the body. The blow with the claws of the hind fingers is so strong that even a fairly large victim flies off the head.