Vertebrate Zoology - Practical Course - V. V. Kuibida - 2007

MODULE 4. Class Aves (Birds)

Birds of the Pereiaslav Region

Among vertebrate animals, birds exhibit the greatest diversity, with a total species count within the former Pereiaslav County currently reaching 242. Based on their seasonal status in the region, they can be divided into five groups: breeding, resident, migratory, wintering, and rare vagrants. The largest group consists of birds that nest locally and migrate to warmer regions in autumn (135 species). Typical representatives include ducks, storks, nightingales, swallows, etc. The second fairly large group comprises birds that appear here only during seasonal Migrations, essentially passing through the Pereiaslav region in transit (57 species). These are primarily northern inhabitants—divers, geese, mergansers, golden eagles, shorebirds, etc.; 28 bird species are classified as resident, meaning they remain in their habitats year-round or undertake short-distance wanderings. These include the grey partridge, owls, woodpeckers, corvids, tits, and sparrows. The wintering group comprises 9 species that visit us exclusively during the winter months: the rough-legged buzzard, great grey shrike, waxwing, bullfinch, and several others. Finally, the last group is represented by birds (13 species) that inhabit entirely different regions, with accidental vagrancy to the Pereiaslav area recorded only a few times over the past half-century. Examples include the common shelduck, great bustard, black-winged stilt, white-backed woodpecker, red crossbill, etc.

Birds can also be categorized by their lifestyle and year-round habitat preferences. This yields another five groups: arboreal and shrub-dwelling (diurnal raptors, owls, pigeons, woodpeckers, most passerines), wetland (herons, rails, gulls, terns), riparian (black kite, short-eared owl, waders, kingfishers, wagtails), meadow-steppe (partridges, quail, larks, chats), and synanthropic (white stork, starlings, feral pigeons, swifts, swallows, sparrows). As evident from the species listed, the final group includes birds that have long become human companions and are practically never found in the wild.

Traditionally, the avifauna of any region is first examined according to its systematic Classification. Since more detailed species accounts for individual birds will be provided later, we offer a Brief Overview of the current status of the bird population in the Pereiaslav region following systematic orders.

First on the list is the order Gaviiformes (divers/loons), represented here by two northern species that migrate along the Dnipro riverbed primarily in autumn. The black-throated diver (Gavia arctica) is fairly common, with migration numbers reaching several thousand individuals. Among the four Representatives of the next order, Podicipediformes (grebes), only the great crested grebe and black-necked grebe (Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps nigricollis) nest on the Water bodies of the Pereiaslav region, while others occur during migration. The order Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies) includes just a single representative—the great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)—which in recent decades has gradually expanded northward along the Dnipro riverbed, appearing in our region in 1987, where it nests on a sandy islet 5 km west of the Trubizh River dam.

From the order Ciconiiformes (storks and herons), the most prominent is the white stork (Ciconia ciconia). Nests of this bird can be found in almost every village of ours. Less numerous inhabitants of bogs and marshes include the Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). In the same habitats, grey herons (Ardea cinerea) and the rarer black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) forage for food, establishing colonies in trees near large water bodies.

The subsequent order Anseriformes (waterfowl) has been well known to humans since prehistoric times, when ducks and geese constituted a significant portion of early hunters' prey. Various duck species are found in the wetlands and diverse water bodies of the Pereiaslav region: the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), common pochard (Aythya ferina), northern pintail (Anas acuta), gadwall (Anas strepera), garganey and common teal (Anas querquedula, A. crecca). During seasonal migrations, the Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), greater scaup (Aythya marila), and three merganser species—common, red-breasted, and smew (Mergus merganser, M. serrator, M. albellus)—are also observed. Greylag geese (Anser anser) occasionally nest on large ponds, whereas bean geese (Anser fabalis) and greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) appear exclusively during migrations. Apart from ducks and geese, a universally recognized representative of this order is the mute swan (Cygnus olor), individual pairs of which began settling in the Pereiaslav region only a few decades ago.

Representatives of the order Falconiformes (diurnal raptors) have arguably suffered the most from the "lord of creation"—humanity. Throughout history, they were ruthlessly eradicated as pests to livestock. Well into the 1970s, hunting associations issued bounties for killing hawks or marsh harriers. Under this "category," any bird of prey that crossed paths with a well-aimed shot was destroyed, regardless of the fact that most of them are listed in international

Red Lists and the Red Book of Ukraine. In reality, almost all raptors feed on mice, which are the primary agricultural pests. In truth, the only representative of Falconiformes that occasionally "annoys" humans is the northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis); yet even it deserves understanding, as it merely attempts to feed its offspring at the expense of other living creatures, which occasionally includes domestic poultry.

Alongside the goshawk, the most common diurnal raptors are the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and the Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus). The black kite (Milvus migrans), common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), and other raptors are rare breeding or migratory species in the Pereiaslav region.

Birds of the order Galliformes (fowl) have been humanity's most cherished and familiar companions for centuries. In addition to the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus f. domestica), everyone is familiar with the grey partridge (Perdix perdix) and the common quail (Coturnix coturnix). The common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) can very rarely be found in agricultural lands, as acclimatization attempts in our region have yielded negligible results to date.

To the order Gruiformes (cranes and rails), aside from the well-known common crane (Grus grus), belong typical wetland inhabitants of the Pereiaslav region: the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), water rail (Rallus aquaticus), and spotted crake (Porzana porzana). The corn crake (Crex crex), although an endangered species in Europe, is a fairly common bird in our area within the floodplain meadows of the Dnipro and Trubizh rivers.

The following order, Charadriiformes (shorebirds, gulls, and terns), is one of the most species-rich, clearly dividing into three groups: waders, gulls, and terns. All of them are tied to aquatic biotopes, inhabiting or foraging within them. Among waders, the Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), terek sandpiper (Xenus cinereus) nest on the sandy banks of the Dnipro, while the common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) nests along the banks of smaller rivers. Meadows and pastures are favored by the northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), common redshank (Tringa totanus), black-tailed godwit (Limosa limosa), and common snipe (Gallinago gallinago). In early spring and late summer, migratory waders that breed in northern Eurasia appear: the ruff (Philomachus pugnax), Sanderling (e.g., Calidris alba), plovers (genera Charadrius, Squatarola), and others. Black-headed gulls (Larus ridibundus), common terns, and little terns (Sterna hirundo, St. albifrons) form colonies on damp meadows, shorelines, and concrete dikes. Caspian gulls (Larus cachinans) appeared in our parts relatively recently and now breed in limited numbers on sandy islets of the Kaniv Reservoir. The group of so-called "marsh terns" includes the black, white-winged, and whiskered terns (Chlidonias niger, Ch. leucoptera, Ch. hybrida). They settle in wetland habitats and river oxbows and are not uncommon within the Pereiaslav region.

From the order Columbiformes (pigeons and doves), the European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), stock dove (Columba oenas), and common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus L.) are widespread in the region's forests. Feral pigeons (Columba livia) and Eurasian collared doves (Streptopelia

decaocto) are closely tied to human settlements and agricultural landscapes. The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is the sole representative of the order Cuculiformes (Cuculidae) in our avifauna and is widely known for its unique reproductive strategy of parasitizing the nests of other birds.

The order Strigiformes (owls) includes the little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), long-eared owl (Asio otus), and short-eared owl (Asio flammeus). All of them are exceptionally beneficial to humans, eradicating vast numbers of harmful rodents.

The next three orders, much like the cuckoos, each have a single representative in the bird population of our region. These are the common swift (Apus apus) — Apodiformes; the European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) — Caprimulgiformes; and the hoopoe (Upupa epops) — Upupiformes.

Regarded as tropical immigrants are the vibrant European roller (Coracias garrulus), the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), and the common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)—representatives of the order Coraciiformes.

Out of ten woodpecker species found in Ukraine (order Piciformes), nine occur in the Pereiaslav region, with the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor) being the most numerous.

Over 35% of all birds in our region belong to the order Passeriformes (passerines). A significant portion consists of forest-dwelling species: the common chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius), common raven (Corvus corax), Eurasian golden thrush (Oriolus oriolus), hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), wood lark (Lullula arborea L.), tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), tits (genera Parus, Aegithalos), Eurasian nuthatch (Sitta europaea), Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), flycatchers (genera Ficedula and

Muscicapa), leaf warblers (genus Phylloscopus), icterine warbler (Hippolais icterina), thrushes (genus Turdus), common redstart

(Phoenicurus phoenicurus), European robin (Erithacus rubecula), and Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes). In shrubs, forest edges, and clearings, one encounters the yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), shrikes (genus Lanius), warblers (genus Sylvia), thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), European goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), and European greenfinch (Chloris chloris). In fields and meadows: chats (genus Saxicola), tawny pipit (Anthus campestris), yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), and Eurasian skylark (Alauda arvensis). In wetland habitats and along water banks: reed warblers (genus Acrocephalus), grasshopper warblers (genus Locustella), reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), white wagtail (Motacilla alba), thrush nightingale / bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), Eurasian penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus), and sand martin (Riparia riparia). Thriving in proximity to humans are the barn swallow and common house martin (Hirundo rustica, Delichon urbica L.), black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), rook (Corvus frugilegus), house sparrow and Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer domesticus, P. montanus), and crested lark (Galerida cristata).

Birds of the Pereiaslav region in national and international conservation lists.

The significant species diversity and richness of the avifauna in the Pereyaslav region and adjacent areas are evidenced by the fact that the vast majority of our local birds are rare and included in various conservation lists and conventions. The most prominent among these are the Red Data Book of Ukraine (1994), the European Red List (1991), and the Bern Convention (1979). Below, we examine the rare and endangered birds of the Pereyaslav region in accordance with these conservation categories. It should be noted that the most vulnerable species may appear in multiple lists simultaneously, which will be indicated where applicable.

1) Red Data Book of Ukraine.

According to the latest edition of the Red Data Book (1994), Ukraine currently counts 67 endangered bird species. Of these, 20 species have been recorded in our region.

✵ Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), order Ciconiiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). Belonging to the rare vagrant

birds of the Pereyaslav region, a single sighting was recorded here in the 1970s. This bird has a very distinct appearance. From a distance, it resembles a white egret, but up close, its long, flat bill with a paddle-like expansion at the tip is clearly visible. The spoonbill uses its bill to sweep through shallow water, filtering out small aquatic organisms in search of prey. This foraging motion closely resembles that of a man mowing with a scythe, which gave the bird its common Ukrainian name. The breeding range of the species is located in southern Ukraine within the floodplains of major rivers (the Danube and the Dniester) and Northern Crimea. Vagrant sightings in other territories are strictly isolated events. It is also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Black Stork (Ciconia nigra), order Ciconiiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). Within the Pereyaslav region, this species is encountered only during migrations, predominantly in the autumn (September–October). As a rule, individuals are observed flying solitarily. The black stork has always been considered a very rare species, nesting only in impenetrable forest wilderness and strictly avoiding humans. However, in recent decades, these birds have become somewhat more tolerant of our presence, and their numbers have begun to slowly increase. Black storks nest in Polissya and the Carpathians. The total population in Ukraine exceeds 450 pairs. They are also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), order Anseriformes — Category II (Vulnerable). This duck is classified as a rare breeding and migratory bird in our region. Isolated broods of the ferruginous duck were observed between 1985 and 1993 in the coastal strip of the reservoir stretching from the Rzhyshchiv military training ground to the city of Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi. The bird is easily recognized by the light ring around its eyes, which is clearly visible up close against its overall dark plumage, a feature that inspired its scientific name. Over the past 50 years, the population of this species has sharply declined across all of Ukraine, leading to its inclusion in the Red Data Book.

✵ Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), order Anseriformes — Category III (Rare). This duck, which shares its surname with the prominent Ukrainian writer Mykola Gogol, is found in the Pereyaslav region solely during seasonal migrations along the Kaniv Reservoir. It arrives in late March to early April and again in October–November, during which periods it is a fairly common bird. A small number may remain to winter in ice holes near the islands. Goldeneyes breed en masse

primarily in the taiga zone of Eurasia, whereas in Ukraine they breed only in isolated pairs within Western Polissya, prompting the species' inclusion in the Red Data Book.

✵ Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator), order Anseriformes — Category II (Vulnerable). Both common names in Ukrainian originate from the sounds made by the birds—a hoarse croaking "khr'okh... tr'okh." Mergansers (the red-breasted and two other species) occur here only during migrations and occasionally wintering. They are best known for their bills, the edges of which are lined with tooth-like serrations rather than the lamellae found in other ducks. These serrations end in small hooks, allowing the birds to firmly grip captured fish. Interestingly, aside from their primary habitats in the forest-tundra and forest zones of Eurasia, the red-breasted merganser maintains an isolated breeding population in southern Ukraine within the Black Sea Biosphere Reserve.

✵ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), order Falconiformes — Category III (Rare). It is sparsely encountered in the Pereyaslav region during seasonal migrations along the Dnieper riverbed. Sightings of wandering individuals during the summer period are also known. Unlike many diurnal birds of prey, the osprey is a specialized hunter feeding exclusively on fish. It plunges upon its prey from the air (sometimes even fully diving) and seizes it with long, sharp, curved talons. Naturally, most prey does not exceed 2–3 kg, though unverified accounts exist of the bird attempting to hunt significantly larger specimens. Local residents report finding large pikes bearing the marks of talons in their backs and remnants of osprey leg bones left by individuals that miscalculated their hunting capabilities. An osprey's nest is invariably littered with fish remains—bones, scales, heads, and so forth. In flight, the bird appears light-colored and from a distance resembles a large gull. In recent decades, the osprey has almost entirely vanished as a breeding species from Ukraine and now warrants reclassification to Category I (Endangered). It is also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), order Falconiformes — Category I (Endangered). It is possible that 1–2 pairs breed within the agricultural landscapes of the Pereyaslav region. A male of this raptor was encountered by us during the breeding season in 1996 in the vicinity of Denysy village. Overall, the bird is not recorded every year during migrations and may linger into early winter. This species belongs to the group known as pale harriers, in which the males feature a gray-white plumage with dark wingtips. In the field, it is very easily confused with Montagu's harrier, though the latter occurs much more frequently and

has rufous lengthwise streaks on the underside of its wings. Females are practically indistinguishable. Because it nests on the ground, clutches are very frequently destroyed by agricultural machinery. Its population in Ukraine is extremely low—up to 25 pairs. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), order Falconiformes — Category III (Rare). It visits the Pereyaslav region during migration periods and likely breeds sporadically. As its name suggests, this diurnal raptor feeds primarily on reptiles and amphibians. When carrying a snake, it grips it by the HEAD while the tail dangles far below, allowing for the unmistakable identification of the bird with its prey in the wild. In flight, the short-toed snake eagle can be distinguished by its fairly large size and the contrast between its light plumage and a markedly dark head. In recent decades, the species' population in Ukraine has begun to gradually recover, currently reaching up to 300 pairs. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), order Falconiformes — Category I (Endangered). It likely breeds sporadically in the Pereyaslav region and occurs during migration periods. During the reproductive period, it has been observed in the area of the Rzhyshchiv military training ground. This raptor is the smallest of our eagles (wingspan 1.1–1.3 m), a trait reflected in its scientific name. Interestingly, the bird's coloration occurs in two main morphs: dark and light, with intermediate colorations also found. A single family (male, female, 1–2 chicks) may exhibit all color phases. Booted eagles are also renowned for their fondness for aerial acrobatics, playing together high in the sky through high-piloting maneuvers. The total population in Ukraine remains low (around 380 pairs). It is also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga) and Lesser Spotted Eagle (Aquila pomarina), order Falconiformes — Category III (Rare). Both of these closely related species are rarely encountered in the Pereyaslav region except during seasonal migrations or summer vagrancy. In the wild, they are virtually indistinguishable, save that the greater spotted eagle is slightly larger and darker. In Ukraine, the lesser spotted eagle nests primarily in Western and Central Polissya, whereas the greater spotted eagle breeds in the East. Both are listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), order Falconiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). Between 2 and 3 pairs nest in our region (Boryspil and Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi districts). These birds build their nests on tall trees in forest tracts near the Kaniv Reservoir because their diet relies heavily on dead and sick fish. During migration periods, the number of eagles increases, with up to 10 individuals observable in a single day. Annually, around the islands of Kruhlyk and Shelestiv, 24 birds overwinter. The white-tailed eagle is one of the largest birds in the fauna of Ukraine (wingspan up to 2.5 m). Aside from its size, it is easily distinguished from other eagles by its relatively short, wedge-shaped tail, massive pale bill, and legs. Furthermore, adult birds have a white tail, which greatly AIDS in identification. Juveniles typically stay close to adult individuals. The majority of the white-tailed eagle population in Ukraine is currently concentrated along the Dnieper valley. Their numbers are gradually recovering and now reach up to 100 pairs. In addition to the Bern Convention (Appendix II), this species is included in the European Red List.

✵ Saker Falcon (Falco cherrug), order Falconiformes — Category III (Rare). Within the Pereyaslav region, this species has most likely ceased breeding. Until the 1980s, it nested in the vicinity of Veselynivka village, Baryshivka district, Kyiv Oblast. Currently, it is classified as a rare vagrant in the region. It is famous for striking its prey in mid-air while reaching breathtaking speeds of up to 300 km/h! The population of this falcon began to plummet catastrophically starting in the mid-20th century due to the mass eradication of agricultural pests—ground squirrels, which form the primary dietary component of the saker falcon. Today, the species' main habitats are located in the steppe zone of Ukraine and Crimea, with a population numbering around 100 pairs. It is also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Common Crane (Grus grus), order Gruiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). This majestic bird belongs to the rare breeding species of our region. Isolated pairs inhabit the marshes of the Rzhyshchiv military training ground. Adult birds with two chicks were encountered by S. Domashevsky (personal communication) in 1994 west of Kovalyn village, Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi district. Common cranes are fairly regular visitors to the Pereyaslav region during seasonal migrations. Everyone is familiar with their

"wedges," formations where the birds align in a triangle and fly high in the sky, filling the air with exceptionally melodic, mournful calls. Interestingly, the leading crane in the wedge, which bears the brunt of air resistance, is periodically replaced by the next bird in line, and so on, until all individuals have fulfilled this honorary duty. In this manner, with brief rest stops, they journey all the way to Africa. In the 20th century, common cranes suffered greatly from drainage amelioration projects widely carried out across Polissya and the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Today, their population is gradually recovering and stands at no less than 850 pairs. The species is also listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Great Bustard (Otis tarda), order Gruiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). In the Pereyaslav region, this is currently a rare vagrant and migrant bird. Single individuals and small groups are recorded in some years within the agricultural landscapes of Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi, Yahotyn, Baryshivka, and Boryspil districts. As one of the largest birds of our fauna (male weight up to 20 kg), it has become exceedingly rare due to the plowing up of virgin steppes. Now, the "Ukrainian ostrich" must adapt to living in agricultural lands, which is not always successful. The courtship displays of the great bustard are magnificent, featuring males growing elaborate "mustaches," puffing out their wings, and engaging in genuine dancing competitions to win females. Nowadays, these birds feel more or less secure only in steppe Crimea. Their total population numbers around 170 pairs. In addition to the Bern Convention (Appendix II), the great bustard is included in the European Red List.

✵ Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus), order Charadriiformes — Category III (Rare). In the Pereyaslav region, it is a rare breeding and migratory bird. It settles on Kruhlyk and Shelestiv islands. It is possible that isolated pairs breed sporadically in the coastal sector of the Rzhyshchiv training ground, where single individuals were noted during the summer months from 1983 to 1997. Although formally classified among waders, the stone-curlew bears little resemblance to them in appearance. Its three-toed feet, short bill, and large yellow eyes easily distinguish the stone-curlew from other waders. The large eyes are necessary because the bird leads a nocturnal lifestyle. When approached by a human, the stone-curlew freezes ("crouches") and then suddenly bursts into flight with a running start. Locally, they settle primarily on sandy areas and salt marshes near large bodies of water. The species is more or less widespread

in southern Ukraine. Its population is very low, numbering no more than 150 pairs. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus), order Charadriiformes — Category III (Rare). In our region, these waders nest exclusively along the sandy spits and islands of the Kaniv Reservoir. In the coastal zone of Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi and Boryspil districts, their population does not exceed 10–15 pairs. The Eurasian oystercatcher features a very distinctive, contrasting black-and-white plumage reminiscent of a Eurasian magpie. However, a brilliantly crimson bill and legs greatly enhance this bird's appearance and set it apart clearly from other waders. It is well known for its strong preference for feeding on freshwater bivalve Mollusks. This wader expertly captures swan mussels in shallow water, even diving for them before opening them ashore. Its Latin species name translates as ostralegus — "oyster-picker." If you discover a heap of opened mussel shells on the Dnieper shore, you can be certain it is the work of an oystercatcher. The largest concentration of this species currently inhabits southern Ukraine. Their total population is estimated at around 800 pairs.

✵ Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis), order Charadriiformes — Category II (Vulnerable). In the Pereyaslav region, this species is a rare migrant. The last confirmed sightings of it occurred in the 1980s on Kruhlyk Island. Aside from migrating predominantly at night, marsh sandpipers are visually difficult to distinguish from other, more widespread wader species. Today, the species' primary habitats in Ukraine are situated in the middle Desna river valley, with a population numbering no more than 100 pairs. It is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata), order Charadriiformes – Category II (vulnerable). This wader was identified as a rare breeding species in the 1970s–1980s near the Trubizh River floodplain in the Pereiaslav region. According to other records, curlews have been periodically spotted during the post-breeding period (August) since the late 1990s in the Baryshivka district. A known instance of finding a bird during the duck hunting season in 1997 suggests the sporadic settlement of individual pairs of this species within our region. During seasonal migrations, Eurasian curlews are rarely seen on the islands and sandspits

of the Kaniv Reservoir. This wader can be distinguished by its fairly large size (about the size of a small chicken), long legs, and a very long, downward-curved bill. The bird uses its bill for feeding, plunging it deep into silt or water in search of small crustaceans and mollusks.

✵ Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia), order Charadriiformes – Category III (rare). Belonging to the tern group, this bird is not seen in the region every year, appearing only during seasonal migrations, mostly in autumn (late August to early September). Visually, it differs from other terns by its large size (larger than a hooded crow) and massive red bill. Like all terns, it catches fish by diving for it from the air. In Ukraine, it nests exclusively on the Black Sea and Azov Sea coast. The species is listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention.

✵ Great grey shrike (Lanius excubitor), order Passeriformes – Category IV (indeterminate). A fairly rare winter visitor to the Pereiaslav region. It arrives from the northern regions of Russia and Belarus, inhabiting brushwood and agricultural landscapes, where it preys on rodents, shrews, and small birds. Although the shrike belongs to passerines, it is a typical predator, as confirmed by its strong bill, hooked at the tip with a tooth-like notch. Characteristically, the shrike impales its prey on thorns and sharp twigs, frequently forgetting about it. Additionally, shrikes are master mimics of other birds' calls. This species is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine. They nest in Polissya and the Carpathians. It is also listed in the Bern Convention (Appendix II).

2) The European Red List of Globally Threatened Animals and Plants (1991).

In addition to the aforementioned "red-listed" white-tailed eagle, this international list includes the corn crake, which is currently also a candidate for inclusion in the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ Corn crake (Crex crex), order Gruiformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It settles in floodplain meadows, winter crop fields,

forest clearings, and logged areas not far from water. Unlike crakes, its nests are built on the ground as a small depression lined with dry grass in thick vegetation or under a bush. The bird is mainly active at night, running swiftly along its pathways without disturbing a single blade of grass; however, it flushes reluctantly with dangling legs, flies a short distance, and drops down very quickly. The crake's well-known grating call, "crex-crex... crex-crex", can be heard throughout the night. This vocalization earned the bird its scientific Latin name. Alongside other conservation lists, the species is included in the IUCN Red List (2000) because the European population is threatened with extinction. Although the status of the corn crake in our country does not yet cause major concern, the real catastrophe for the species is mechanized hay mowing in late May and the construction of summer cottages on the Dnieper floodplain meadows.

3) The Bern Convention

Birds constitute the largest group of animal species protected under the auspices of the Bern Convention. Taking into account Appendices II and III out of the total avian fauna of Ukraine (416 species, 265 of which nest regularly on its territory), 91% (380 species) fall under the lists of the Bern Convention.

As already noted, species belonging to Appendix II are subject to special protection. Although a considerable portion of the birds in this appendix (tits, woodpeckers, buntings, etc.) maintain satisfactory population statuses in Ukraine, they require conservation in Europe. Therefore, we will examine the main groups and species of birds from the Bern Convention (Appendix II) currently found in the Pereiaslav region.

✵ Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), order Podicipediformes. A fairly rare breeding and uncommon migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits shallow standing or sluggishly flowing water bodies densely overgrown with emergent vegetation. All grebe species build a floating nest on the water. Due to the fact that a significantly larger part of the nest is underwater (somewhat like an "iceberg"), it can weigh several tens of kilograms. As it decomposes, heat is released to provide supplementary warming for the eggs. Thus, the above-water part of the nest, even in the absence of the birds, has a Temperature 7.5 degrees higher than the air. In this natural "incubator," the grebe uses the same heating principle as the tropical megapodes. Interestingly, in the first days after birth, the parents carry their chicks on their backs and even dive with them, tucking the little ones under their wings. Adult birds eat themselves and feed their chicks not only with fish and invertebrates, but also with feathers collected on the water or plucked from their own bodies. Because grebe meat has an unpleasant taste and due to their ability to form undigested feather pellets, these birds are commonly referred to as "bogankas" (foul-tasting birds) in Russian. Sometimes, the Ukrainian term "pirnykoza" is used, meaning "the diving goat." However, this name applies only to the great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), which has prominent "horns" on its head, and does not suit other grebe species. In addition to the black-necked grebe, the little grebe and red-necked grebe (Podiceps ruficollis, P. grisegena) are also listed in the Bern Convention, though they appear in our region only during seasonal migrations.

✵ Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), order Ciconiiformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits the wetlands of the Dnieper floodplain, where large expanses of cattail and reed beds are present. Individual pairs also nest in the marshes of the Rzhyshchiv training ground and the Trubizh valley. The bittern leads a very secretive lifestyle, but it can be detected by its loud, booming, disjointed calls "prumb... bu-bu-bu...", which gave it its name. When in danger, the bird freezes with its bill pointing upward. It blends in with the reeds and can stand like that for several hours, then take off vertically. In extreme danger, the bittern fluffs its feathers, adopts a threatening posture while greatly increasing in size, rotates its wings almost in a circle, and opens its bill, the inside of which is colored light red. The bittern may rush at an enemy and try to strike the eye with its bill. Like other herons, it feeds on fish and other small animals. To clean mucus from its bill cavity, the bittern uses the cornified comb of its middle toes like a natural toothbrush.

✵ Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), order Ciconiiformes. It is found in our area in the same biotopes as the Eurasian bittern. However, it can also inhabit shrubby marshes, where it climbs skillfully along branches thanks to its long and flexible toes. The little bittern is the smallest heron in Europe (length about 35 cm, wingspan 55 cm). It builds a cone-shaped nest in the reeds above the water. It is hard to confuse its nest with that of any other species because every stem is shortened by the bird. The clutch can contain from 4 to 10 eggs. Newly hatched chicks use the common heron

method of begging for food. They grab the parent's bill from the side and pull it down into the nest. The adult bird regurgitates semi-digested food from its crop. The name "little bittern" is given due to a certain similarity between the bird's call and the booming of a bull "pumb... pumb...", though much quieter than that of the previous species.

✵ Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), order Ciconiiformes. This representative of the heron family is a rare breeding and migratory species in the Pereiaslav region. Their largest known colony is located within a grey heron rookery on Kruhlyk Island in the Kaniv Reservoir. Their numbers fluctuate across different years from 5 to 30 pairs. Adult night herons have a very striking, contrasting appearance: grey wings, a white belly, a black crown and back, yellow legs, and red eyes. Additionally, in spring, a crest of two to four long white plumes develops on the back of the head. The species name derives from the bird's calls "quok... quok...", which can be heard mostly at night, as the night heron leads a nocturnal lifestyle. Interestingly, the English call it the "night heron".

✵ Great egret (Egretta alba), order Ciconiiformes. In the Pereiaslav region, it is a rare breeding and uncommon migratory bird. A colony of this species (about 15 pairs) exists in the "Bile" reed marsh near the village of Soshnyky, Boryspil district. Another settlement (10–20 pairs) has been discovered in reed beds on partially drained marshes between the villages of Polohy-Yanenky, Tarasivka (Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi district, Kyiv region), and Brovarky (Zolotonosha district, Cherkasy region). Overall, the great egret is a relatively recent inhabitant of our region. It appeared here only a few decades ago during its range expansion along the Dnieper valley from southern Ukraine. Like other herons, this bird prevents its feathers from getting wet not only by using the secretions of the uropygial gland, but also through special powder down on its chest and back that disintegrates into a talcum-like powder. Feathers dusted with this powder are quickly cleared of mucus and dirt, which easily shakes off. In summer, two tufts of finely divided plumes appear on the bird's back. These are the famous aigrettes that greatly adorn the bird, which is also why the great egret is known for its immaculate white plumage. In the early 20th century, the species was nearly wiped out in Ukraine due to the fashion for women's hats decorated with aigrettes. Today, the population has almost fully recovered.

✵ Little egret (Egretta garzetta), order Ciconiiformes. In the Pereiaslav region, this heron is a rather rare vagrant species, although a single nesting instance was recorded in a grey heron colony near the village of Protsiv, Boryspil district. It differs from the great egret by its smaller size and yellow toes, as if the bird were wearing yellow gloves on black feet. Another name is the little egret. It has 2–3 long plumes on the back of its head, and aigrettes on its back and chest. It nests in trees, often within colonies of other herons or great cormorants. When greeting each other at the nest, herons fluff up their feather ornaments, giving the impression that the birds are draped in a white veil. Birds may perch on the backs of livestock grazing in river valleys to feed on insects.

✵ Purple heron (Ardea purpurea), order Ciconiiformes. It is a rare inhabitant of the large floodplain marsh complexes of the Kaniv Reservoir within the Boryspil and Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi districts. It settles among reed beds and avoids open water surfaces. It mostly nests in mixed colonies or isolated pairs on flattened reeds or on heaps of previous year's vegetation rising above the water. They very rarely perch in tall trees the way grey herons do. The heron's staple diet is fish. The bird pierces large fish with its open bill, tosses it upward again, catches it, and swallows it head-first. Its diet also includes amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. The largest settlements of the purple heron are located in southern Ukraine (the Danube, the Dnieper delta), where bird numbers can reach 40 pairs or more.

✵ White stork (Ciconia ciconia), order Ciconiiformes. In the Pereiaslav region, this bird can be encountered in virtually every village, especially when water bodies or wetland areas are nearby. It is very easy to distinguish by its large size, white plumage with black wingtips, and bright red, long legs and bill. In flight, storks extend their necks forward (unlike herons) and do not form formations. Among interesting Anatomical Features, storks lack a crop, possess a claw on the wing (on the first digit of the hand), and have a small webbing between the front three toes. Their vocal cords are reduced, making adult birds almost mute, while their nestlings beg for food from parents with wheezing

sounds. During the breeding season, males and females characteristically throw their heads backward and communicate by bill-clattering varying in frequency, intensity, and pitch. Storks remain faithful to their nest, though not necessarily to their partner, despite being monogamous. Sometimes, after overwintering, storks remain in South Africa and may breed there. Since 1996, the Kyiv region has hosted Ukraine's only White Stork Museum.

✵ Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), order Anseriformes. In the Pereiaslav region, this bird is classified as a rare migratory species. It is encountered mainly in autumn or early winter. Its main breeding grounds are located in northern Eurasia. It is a proud, aggressive bird weighing up to 12 kg, differing from the mute swan by its yellow bill (the mute swan has a red bill). Flight is swift, lacking the whistling sound characteristic of mute swans. When swimming, the front part of the body is deeply immersed in the water, while the rear is raised. The neck is held vertically upright, the bill is kept horizontal, and the wings are pressed tightly against the body. Chicks have grey down, followed by similar plumage until their second winter, when they become entirely white. Swans are unsuited for diving and therefore do not feed in deep waters. Feeding in shallows, birds often submerge their heads to dig up the roots of aquatic plants. If they stay behind for the winter, they are doomed to starvation once the water freezes over. Whooper swans cannot tolerate human presence and may readily abandon a nest with a clutch. However, when defending small chicks, a swan can even break the arm of a child or teenager with a wing blow.

✵ European honey buzzard (Pernis apivorus), order Falconiformes. This diurnal bird of prey is a fairly rare breeding species in our region. During seasonal migrations, it is recorded more regularly. Externally, the honey buzzard is quite similar to the common buzzard, but unlike it, features three distinct dark bands on the tail. The honey buzzard searches for its primary prey—wasp and bumblebee nests—in inaccessible locations among grass, bushes amidst foliage, in trees, and in underground burrows. One needs innate adaptations for this "trade," because not only finding, but also eating wasp larvae is a major challenge. The honey buzzard is protected from angry insects by dense plumage, especially on the forehead, the corners of the Mouth, and around the eyes. Its legs are covered with hard horny scales. Thanks to phenomenal Vision, boundless patience, and The ability to freeze motionless, the bird accurately tracks the flight of wasps in the mottled mosaic of the forest. By the flight pattern and the buzzing of the victim, the honey buzzard distinguishes "cargo-bearing" insects returning to the nest from those flying "empty-handed." As a result, the wasps themselves lead the uninvited guest to their paper nests packed with nutritious larvae. Each day, a pair of honey buzzards needs 4–6 wasp nests so that each chick receives at least 1,000 larvae. Over the summer season, a single family inhabiting 20–50 km2 of forest must gather about 50,000 wasp and bumblebee larvae with a total weight of up to 5 kg. On rainy days when insects do not fly, the honey buzzard is forced to consume "substitute foods," which include frogs, lizards, nestlings, other insects, etc. Wasp nests are destroyed not only by the honey buzzard, but also by other animals, such as the badger.

✵ Black kite (Milvus migrans), order Falconiformes. In the Pereiaslav region, this species is quite rare, both during nesting and migration. The black kite is not black at all, but rather dark brown. It is a very cautious bird, though it may live close to human dwellings. It builds nests in trees, "decorating" them with all sorts of things: lumps of earth, manure, paper, scraps of rags, pieces of plastic, Hair, twigs, metal objects, etc. A famous case involved the discovery of a nest containing four playing cards lying face up. Birds "tamp down" all of this until it resembles an asphalt pad. Knowing this behavioral trait of kites, it is easy to determine the territorial boundaries of their habitat. One merely needs to scatter sheets of paper with numbers or the written distance to the nest, and sheets from an area of 50–80 hectares will turn up in the nest. Kites are poor hunters, but skillful scavengers. They feed on dead fish, nestlings, lizards, frogs, and most frequently carrion, as well as sick and wounded small animals and birds. Kites are notorious thieves and notice anything edible that is "lying around." In areas of highest density, kites have learned to use humans as unwitting, unaware assistants for hunting. When a noisy dump truck drives through town, a factory siren sounds, or church bells ring, potential victims become distracted by this stimulus and lose vigilance. It is precisely at this moment that the kite attacks its prey. Overall, the black kite has a low population in Ukraine (up to 2,000 pairs) and is a candidate for the new edition of the Red Data Book.

✵ Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), order Falconiformes. In the Pereiaslav region, this diurnal bird of prey from the pale harrier group is a rare species, whose nesting (1–2 pairs) is only anticipated. The birds were encountered by us in 1995–1996 during the breeding season in the Baryshivka and Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi districts. The harrier settles in meadows, river valleys, and agricultural fields. It nests and hunts on the ground. It has relatively long tail, wings, tarsi, and short toes. A "facial disk" reminiscent of owls and yellow legs are also characteristic of all harriers. During egg incubation, the female flies out to meet the male to receive food from him and takes it demonstratively. From the side, this may look like an aerial combat. Recently, instances of Montagu's harriers settling in dense stands of stinging nettle emerging on abandoned cattle farms have been recorded. In such biotopes, the birds may even form small colonies of 3–5 breeding pairs. Montagu's harrier is a rather rare bird in Ukraine and is a candidate for inclusion in the new edition of the Red Data Book.

✵ Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), order Falconiformes. This harrier is one of the most common diurnal raptors in our region. It inhabits large wetlands, amelioration systems, or reedbeds along the shores of the Kaniv Reservoir. It is also known as the Eurasian marsh harrier. Unlike pale harriers, it features a brown upper body combined with a light buff head. The bird is easily recognized by its flight and habitat. Its flight is slow, low, and "floating," typically just above the reed thickets. Females are significantly larger and heavier than males. The diet of marsh harriers may include insects, frogs, lizards, birds, and small mammals. The main wintering grounds of the western marsh harrier are located in Central and Southern Africa.

✵ Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), order Falconiformes. A typical resident of the forest tracts in the Pereyaslav region. It can be found here year-round. In 2003, while pursuing a pigeon, a female goshawk crashed through a windowpane and flew straight into a lecture hall at the Pereyaslav Pedagogical University along with her prey. She had short rounded wings, a long tail, and dark bars on her breast. Goshawks are not adapted for soaring at high altitudes; instead, they usually conceal themselves in tree canopies and launch sudden, swift attacks from ambush. Rural homeowners often notice a goshawk only when it seizes a chicken and creates a commotion in the yard. Terrified chickens, pigeons, and ducks scramble into hiding and freeze there in sheer fright. Even long after the goshawk has flown away, it is difficult to drive them out of their hiding spots. The birds remain terrified of the very place where the attack occurred. Occasionally, a large panicked chicken carries the uninvited guest right into the coop or house. Adult goshawks feature dark transverse bars on their bodies, whereas juveniles have longitudinal teardrop-shaped markings. An adult goshawk can also be distinguished by the white "eyebrows" above its yellow eyes (in very old males, the eyes turn red). Pairs in these birds remain bonded for years. Both partners will attack any wandering male suitor, and quite frequently, the female kills the intruder—sometimes more than one. The male goshawk brings prey and drops it into the nest, while the female tears it into pieces and feeds the chicks. If the female dies, the chicks perish as well, buried under uneaten, whole prey. The eyes of goshawk chicks are black and, against the Background of light down, act as a stimulus for the parental feeding instinct. The female feeds the little ones as long as the black eyes are visible. Once fed, the chicks turn their backs to the mother, hide their eyes, and the feeding instinct temporarily subsides. If a chick has eaten its fill and dozed off, forgetting to hide its stimulus-eyes, the female continues shoving pieces of meat at it, unaware that it is full and wishes to rest. In addition to birds, the northern goshawk preys on squirrels, rabbits, and hares. Tamed goshawks have long been used for hunting pigeons, pheasants, partridges, hares, and other game. One interesting method for training a young bird to land on a hunter's hand, protected by a specialized gauntlet, involves training in an indoor pool. Lacking other "perches," the bird is forced to land on the outstretched hand. Another common practice is covering the bird's eyes with a leather hood (cap) all day long. The hungry goshawk is placed on the hand, the hood is removed, and it is fed meat, repeating this process many times. This is how the feathered hunter grows accustomed to perching on the hand. Training initially takes place using dead pigeons tossed into the air, clipped-wing birds, and later larger prey. To make it easier to find the bird in the wild, bells are sometimes tied to the goshawk's legs.

✵ Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), order Falconiformes. Like the previous species, the Eurasian sparrowhawk is a partially resident bird, quite widespread in our region. It is similar in behavior and coloration to the northern goshawk, but significantly smaller in size. It builds a new nest every year by adding to its own nest from the previous year or taking over the nests of other birds. It hunts small birds from ambush. It bursts out at high speed or flies very low until it suddenly finds itself amid a flock of startled birds. Consequently, carried away by the hunt, it may occasionally crash. Ringing data indicate that some birds arrive here in autumn, spend the winter, and return to Russian territory in March and April. The population status of the Eurasian sparrowhawk in Ukraine and Europe is stable. The bird is rarely hunted; old-forest logging has almost no impact on it because it also nests in young plantations; and mortality during migration periods is low since the Ukrainian population is practically sedentary. Factors causing certain fluctuations in its population status include its position in food chains. As a representative at the apex of the ecological pyramid, the bird's Organism accumulates pesticides, making its residue levels a very accurate indicator of environmental contamination.

✵ Rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), order Falconiformes. This raptor is a common winter visitor to the Pereyaslav region. It can be found throughout agricultural landscapes, where it hunts mice and voles. Due to its predilection for feeding on rodents, the rough-legged buzzard provides invaluable benefits to our agriculture. Externally, it closely resembles the common buzzard, but differs in having feathered legs (feathers cover the tarsus all the way to the toes), a white tail with dark terminal bands, and dark patches on the underwings. Anthropogenic factors leading to significant bird mortality include poaching during fur-bearing animal hunting and electrocution on power line poles.

✵ Common buzzard (Buteo buteo), order Falconiformes. A common resident breeder and migrant diurnal raptor in the Pereyaslav region. Characteristic Features of its appearance include a small bill and a habit of sitting with fluffed feathers and its head pulled in. In flight, it is somewhat clumsy, soaring with its wings held in a V-shape, and occasionally "hovering" in the air. During a month-long captivity of a common buzzard at our university in 2003, it displayed docile traits and offered almost no resistance when handled. At the same time, the buzzard's pectoral Muscles were completely relaxed. The species' common Ukrainian name (*kanyuk*) derives from its long, plaintive call resembling a cat's meow, "kia-kia," as if the bird is begging or whining (*kanyuchyt*). In Germany, the buzzard is called the "cat eagle." The primary food source for buzzards is mice. In lean years, when rodents are scarce, instead of 2–4 chicks, only a single one is raised. The rest are killed by the strongest sibling.

✵ Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), order Falconiformes. A fairly rare breeding and passage bird in the Pereyaslav region. Its population likely does not exceed a dozen pairs. About the size of a pigeon, it features clearly noticeable black "mustache" marks. In flight, its wings are sickle-shaped, making it resemble a very large black swift. Like most falcons, the hobby does not build its own nest, instead taking over those of other birds in groves and at forest edges. In terms of diet, it is a highly specialized predator—catching its prey (small birds and insects) exclusively on the wing. Much like the saker falcon, it can reach breathtaking speeds when it folds its wings and stoops like a stone onto its prey. It loves to settle near colonies of sand martins, flying there every day to "dine." Although the martins manage to mob and drive the predator away as a group, in most cases it escapes from them with prey gripped in its talons.

✵ Merlin (Falco columbarius), order Falconiformes. This falcon is very rarely seen in our region during seasonal migrations and wintering. In terms of its diet, it is an ornithophage, but unlike the Eurasian hobby, it captures prey not only in the air but also in bushes and on the ground. Near and within human settlements, it typically hunts sparrows. To enhance maneuverability, the bird has relatively short wings and a long tail.

✵ Red-footed falcon (Falco vespertinus L.), order Falconiformes. A rare migratory and presumably breeding bird of the Pereyaslav region. Information regarding its residence and sightings during the breeding period is lacking. It is widespread in the steppe zone of southern Ukraine. It is the smallest of our falcons. Typically, it settles in small groves or isolated clumps of trees amid open fields. Colonies numbering several dozen pairs are quite common for this species, though solitary pairs are encountered more frequently. It often nests within rook colonies, occupying their nests after the young have fledged because the breeding season for red-footed falcons starts later. In terms of diet, the bird is primarily entomophagous, although in spring, when insects are scarce, lizards and small mammals become regular components of its diet. During this time, the red-footed falcon even catches spadefoot toads, which other predators dislike. It strips the toad's Skin with its poisonous glands and consumes only the Internal Organs. The female red-footed falcon feeds primarily on the chick that begs most energetically. Therefore,

weaker chicks or those that hatched later perish. Much like kestrels, it can hover motionless in the air for a long time facing into the wind. The bird is unafraid of humans and frequently perches on telegraph poles and wires.

✵ Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), order Falconiformes. An uncommon breeding and passage species in the Pereyaslav region. Based on its movement patterns, the kestrel has earned vivid folk names such as *shyriak* (soarer), *vitrolom* (windbreaker), *vitryak* (windmill), and *trepeshchuk* (trembler). These vernacular and scientific names stem from the fact that while searching for prey, the bird often flies over fields facing the wind as if fighting it, hovering in place with rapid wingbeats. This flight characteristic is also reflected in its Russian folk name "tryasulka" (shaker). It can build its nests on trees and bushes as well as on steep cliff faces. In the first case, it occupies old nests of other birds (crows, magpies, etc.), whereas when settling on buildings or earth cliffs, the bird constructs the nest itself. Holes in building walls that are sheltered from the wind are best suited for these purposes. Entire breeding colonies of the common kestrel are known on tall churches in Western Europe. Recently, the birds have also begun penetrating large cities in Ukraine. For instance, in Kyiv, kestrels settle on high-rise residential and administrative buildings, utilizing the same structures for many years. These birds, like other falcons, can regulate their birth rates depending on food supplies. If food is insufficient, the female stops incubating the eggs.

✵ Spotted crake (Porzana porzana), order Gruiformes. A fairly common wetland resident of the Pereyaslav region belonging to the rail family (Rallidae). It has fluffy, dark-colored plumage. Like all rails, its short wings feature a digit ending in a claw, serving as a reminder that avian wings evolved from the clawed forelimbs of reptilian ancestors. Chicks use these claws when climbing through dense thickets. Despite inhabiting wetland biotopes, its toes lack webbed membranes (which are present only in the Eurasian coot). At dusk, the spotted crake runs rapidly along pathways, gathering invertebrates, seeds, and green parts of aquatic plants. With every step, the bird dips its head and frequently barks or cocks its tail. When escaping from open areas, it assists itself with wingbeats. It swims rarely and flies reluctantly, only in extreme danger, and even then with its legs dangling downwards.

✵ Little crake (Porzana parva), order Gruiformes. In our region, it is an uncommon breeding bird in the Dnipro flood-plains and wetland areas. In appearance and habits, it resembles the spotted crake, but is smaller. It runs well, even through dense reedbeds or sedges, squeezing between stems. When startled in the open, the bird escapes while flapping its wings, occasionally creating the impression that a mouse is running past. In extreme cases, the little crake takes off slowly with dangling legs, flies a few dozen meters, and then drops back into the vegetation. Such flights are often mistaken for the escape of a fledgling, although during long migratory flights the bird extends its legs backward. Birds migrate to warmer regions at night and solitarily. If one sits quietly in a boat or on the shore, the little crake can be observed up close. During egg incubation, the bird allows a very close approach to the nest without abandoning it.

✵ Little ringed plover (Charadrius dubius), order Charadriiformes. This small wader is a fairly common breeding and migratory bird in المرا region (Pereyaslav region). It settles on sandy and pebble beaches, in quarries, vegetable gardens, dams, and old silage pits. It is active at dusk and at night. When moving across the ground, it shuffles its feet so rapidly that it appears to roll like a ball. Between runs, the bird bobs its body as if bowing. At midday, the little ringed plover rests standing on one leg. Its nest is an inconspicuous depression in the sand or gravel, where it lays 4 eggs that invariably (as in most waders) lie "crosswise" with their pointed ends facing inward. Interestingly, despite a body weight of 40–45 g, the tiny bird manages to incubate large eggs weighing around 30 g. Despite a well-developed brood patch (an area of bare skin with a dense Blood vessel network), incubation duration in cool weather increases by a week compared to warm days. The plover attempts to lure potential predators away from the nest by performing unnatural distraction displays. Recently, instances of the species adapting to settle in human-altered environments have increased.

✵ Green sandpiper (Tringa ochropus), order Charadriiformes. A rare breeding and common passage species in the region. During migration, it is encountered predominantly in the Dnipro floodplain. The species is of northern origin, and the southern boundary of its breeding range runs across the Pereyaslav region.

The common Ukrainian name of this wader, *chornysh* (literally "blacky"), reflects the bird's dark plumage, while another existing name, *kolovodnyk lisovyi* (forest sandpiper), indicates its habitat. It settles exclusively in forest biotopes: along waterbody shores with shrub thickets, alder swamps, river valleys, and along forest drainage ditches. The green sandpiper predominantly nests in trees within old nests of thrushes, jays, crows, etc., which is completely uncharacteristic of other waders. In nature, this species is easily distinguished in flight by the contrast between its dark plumage and bright white rump. Upon taking off, it emits a loud, clear whistle: "tuit-wuit-wuit..."

✵ Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), order Charadriiformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory wader of the Pereyaslav region. It settles along the shores of rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. When flying around its breeding territory, it skims right above the water (giving the impression that the wingtips are brushing the river surface). In doing so, it unfailingly crosses a narrow body of water from one bank to the other, like a true ferryman—hence its Ukrainian name *perezivnyk* (ferryman). When pursued by predators, the bird plunges directly into the water from the air and resurfaces several meters away, remaining submerged for up to 30 seconds. These waders love to perch on tall, exposed spots above water: stones, branches, isolated reed stems, characteristically bobbing their tails. It builds its nest in a depression in the soil near water, sheltered by bushes, tree roots, or brushwood, yet positioned so that waves or surges cannot reach it. The four eggs weigh as much as the female herself, who lays them over the course of a week. It feeds on insects and invertebrates.

✵ Terek sandpiper (Xenus cinereus), order Charadriiformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. This small wader, about the size of a starling, features a characteristic, rather long (compared to the common sandpiper) slightly upturned bill, orange legs, and brownish-gray plumage. Its call is a very melodious "tlyu-tlyu-tlyu..." Most interestingly, this northern species practically did not breed in Ukraine until the late 1960s. Following the construction of the Dnipro Cascade, it began actively expanding southward—first along reservoirs and subsequently along the Desna floodplain. Currently, its northernmost nesting site is located in the Cherkasy Oblast in the upper reaches of the Kremenchuk Reservoir. It inhabits low-lying shores and islands of reservoirs, large rivers, oxbows, and channels, often in areas of intensive cattle grazing. Instances of nesting on plowed fields, hydroelectric station breakwaters, and settling basins are known. It forms small colonies ranging from 2–3 to 6–8 pairs. Like all waders, it lays 4 eggs arranged in a cross shape with their blunt ends pointing outward. On one occasion, we were fortunate to encounter a double clutch of 8 eggs, most likely laid in a single nest by two females due to a shortage of nesting territory on a tiny sandy islet.

✵ Little stint (Calidris minuta), order Charadriiformes. A fairly rare passage species in our region. It does not exceed a sparrow in size. Another name is the little stint. It does not breed in Ukraine, being distributed across the Eurasian tundra zone from Norway to Chukotka. During migrations, especially in autumn, it is frequently encountered along the Dnipro on barren low shores.

✵ Curlew sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), order Charadriiformes. A rare migratory wader of the Pereyaslav region. A starling-sized bird with a relatively long, noticeably down-curved bill. In breeding plumage, the breast and anterior belly are richly rufous. It does not breed in Ukraine, being distributed in the tundra zone from the Yamal Peninsula east to the Chukchi Peninsula. During migrations, it is encountered on the shores and islands of the Dnipro.

✵ Dunlin (Calidris alpina), order Charadriiformes. An uncommon migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. Characteristic features: upperparts dark brown, neck and upper breast white, breast and anterior belly black. This is also a bird of northern Eurasia and North America. During migrations, it is encountered along the Dnipro on muddy mudflats in groups of 1 to 10 individuals.

✵ Great snipe (Gallinago media), order Charadriiformes. A rare migratory and vagrant bird of the region. Until the mid-20th century, isolated individuals nested within the Pereyaslav region, but they subsequently disappeared. This can be attributed to the negative impacts of flooding the Dnipro floodplain meadows following the construction of the Kaniv Reservoir and land reclamation works in small river floodplains. In appearance, the great snipe is very similar to the common snipe, but slightly larger. In nature, it is distinguished by its takeoff manner. The common snipe takes off with a characteristic raspy croak, flies a short distance in an erratic flight, and after describing a wide arc, returns to its previous spot. The great snipe takes off silently, beats its wings loudly, and flies low over the ground without zigzags. It inhabits damp, marshy meadows with tussocks and well-developed vegetation, primarily in the forest zone of Ukraine (Polissia) and along the banks of the Desna. The great snipe's breeding range has "shifted" northward, and recently it has ceased nesting in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Lviv, Ternopil, and Vinnytsia oblasts. The species' population in our country numbers no more than 500–700 pairs. As a globally vulnerable species on a worldwide scale, the great snipe is listed in the IUCN Red List and warrants removal from game bird lists and inclusion in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ Black tern (Chlidonias niger), order Charadriiformes. This tern, together with the whiskered and white-winged terns (Chlidonias hybrida, Ch. leucopterus), constitutes the group of so-called marsh terns. All of them feature a significant proportion of black in their plumage and nest in wetlands, unlike the group of so-called river terns, which includes the common tern (Sterna hirundo) and little tern (Sterna albifrons). River terns are entirely white, except for a black cap, and prefer to settle on sandy spits, islands, concrete dams, etc. All mentioned species nest in the Pereyaslav region and are listed in Appendix II of the Bern Convention. The tern's legs are weak, and the bird uses them little, primarily for short walks around the nest. As a compensation, however, they have evolved a consummate flight, placing terns on a par with swifts. The difference lies in the fact that a swift forcefully "slices" through the air, expending more energy. A tern's flight is more economical and thus less energy-demanding. With sweeping, "effortless" wingbeats, the bird sustains its body in the air and hovers over the water like a kite from morning till evening. Yet during storm-force winds, the tern takes shelter in its nest, whereas swifts cope with gales quite easily. Terns possess narrow, long wings that cross over the tail when folded, and a fairly long, forked tail resembling that of a barn swallow. They fly over the water uttering cries, occasionally plunging down or even diving to seize prey. Marsh terns build floating nests composed of dead vegetation and fresh grass, whereas river terns either scrape a hollow in the sand or simply lay their eggs directly onto the substrate.

✵ Long-eared owl (Asio otus), order Strigiformes. This is the most widespread owl in the Pereyaslav region and across Ukraine.

In nature, it is recognized by its long ear-tufts and toes feathered all the way to the claws. It inhabits agricultural landscapes. It nests in small pine and mixed woodlots amid fields, shelterbelts, shrubby riparian growth, parks, and gardens. After the breeding season, long-eared owls disperse and in October begin forming winter roosting aggregations. During this period, they gather in groups of 20–40, up to 120 individuals in a single Location, where they spend the winter. On occasion, such a flock of owls settles on a rooftop in a settlement and shocks homeowners as an omen of misfortune. The owl sits near a tree trunk or in dense branches all day, becoming active toward evening and at night. It hunts mice, relying on its keen eyesight and Hearing.

✵ Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus), order Strigiformes. A rare, partially resident and nomadic bird in our region. In appearance and size, it resembles the long-eared owl, but has much smaller ear-tufts. It is active both day and night. It leads a "gypsy" lifestyle, resting and nesting wherever mice are abundant, and moving on if food becomes scarce. If a pair's territory abounds with prey, the owl stores caches of dead mice, ground birds, rats, and hamsters around the nest. It flies low over the ground. It nests in open areas: meadows, marshes, and uncultivated fields. If approached during incubation, it pulls a face known as the "goat face," while the male attacks from the air. Flightless nestlings, when approached, threatenly hiss and clap their bills like all owls, and defend themselves against aerial predators with their talons while lying on their backs. During the day, they love to rest in fields, on stones, and poles, but not in trees. At night, they frequently sit on roadside embankments, appearing brightly in the headlights of passing vehicles. In recent decades, the short-eared owl has become rare across most of Ukraine and is currently a prime candidate for inclusion in the new edition of the Red Data Book.

✵ Little owl (Athene noctua), order Strigiformes. A fairly common resident bird of the agricultural landscapes of the Pereiaslav region. This is a small owl, about the size of a fist with a wingspan of up to 50 cm. Its daytime flight is undulating, resembling that of woodpeckers. It moves along the ground with hops, and when disturbed, it can stretch upright like a post and then squat, pulling its head in and out of its shoulders as if bowing. It nests mainly on the outskirts of settlements, at livestock farms, mills, tractor stations, and granaries. It builds nests in attics, ventilation vents, cavities of reinforced concrete structures, under roof slate, abandoned wells, tree hollows, straw ricks, rock crevices, and burrows in steep banks. By day, the little owl feeds mainly on insects, while at night its prey consists of small birds that have poor night vision, mice, and even rats and least weasels. It can defend its nest against a cat, but falls prey to martens. If a little owl sits out in the open during the day, small birds gather around it with great noise. This behavioral trait is used in Africa and Mediterranean countries to catch them. The catcher ties a little owl in the open as a decoy, while twigs around it are smeared with glue to which birds stick, or uses a bird net.

✵ Tawny owl (Strix aluco), order Strigiformes. A fairly common resident bird of the forest areas of the Pereiaslav region. It is medium-sized with a wingspan of up to 94-104 cm and has a large head without "ear" tufts. Leading a nocturnal lifestyle, it is rarely seen by people. It is found in deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests, parks, and gardens that feature old trees with hollows. Sometimes it occupies the nests of magpies, crows, or the attics of buildings. While feeding their chicks, the parents are quite aggressive and may even attack a person, trying to hook hair and eyes with their claws. In summer, the owl feeds mainly on mice, whereas in winter it switches to small birds. It "hovers" over sleeping birds until they fly off sleepily. In such a panicked state, the owl easily grabs its prey. Occasionally, it penetrates dovecotes and catches pigeons there.

✵ European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus), order Caprimulgiformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird in our area. Smaller than a pigeon, it has dark coloration, a relatively long tail, and long wings. It features large eyes, a short bill, and a very wide gape. By day, the nightjar dozes on the ground or camouflages itself on a tree, aligned lengthwise along a branch; when startled, it flies a short distance away. It can be detected by its mating song. From a distance, the sounds resemble the mating calls of frogs or the "chugging" of a motor, lasting up to 5 minutes and ending with a sharp cry repeated 4-5 times, followed by the sound of flapping wings. It settles in light pine, mixed, and broadleaved forests that have clearings, felling sites, and rides. Active at dusk and at night, the nightjar feeds on insects, primarily moths. It catches its prey in flight with its mouth wide open. If it gets very dark, the bird hunts on the ground or on roads where asphalt heated during the day attracts many insects. During cold snaps, when the nightjar does not fly out to hunt, it can lower its body temperature by "turning off the heating". To conserve energy, the nightjar can enter into a "hunger torpor". The nightjar builds no nests, laying its eggs directly on the ground. The chicks leave droppings around the nest in rings that expand day by day. When threatened, the chicks open their wide mouths and hiss, mimicking a snake. The Russian common name for the bird, *kozodoy* (goatsucker), arose under METABOLISM/18.html">The Influence of folk belief that this bird supposedly sucks milk from goats at night. This is a fabrication of herdsmen who might have milked the master's goats themselves and blamed the bird flying nearby. Indeed, nightjars are often found near herds of resting goats and sheep, but they are attracted not by milk, but by the Abundance of insects around the animals. The birds suffer from being hit by car tires on warm asphalt and during forest pesticide treatments. Their clutches are destroyed during livestock grazing, mushroom picking, and forestry operations.

✵ Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), order Coraciiformes. A relatively common breeding bird of coastal biotopes and floodplains of small rivers in the Pereiaslav region. In nature, it is identified by its very bright blue-azure back, glossy rusty body, and the habit of sitting motionless over the water and suddenly plunging in to catch small fish or a dragonfly larva. It flies low over the water with a loud, sharp, squeaky whistle. It nests in bank slopes and steep drop-offs up to 1 km away from the nearest body of water. Unlike bank swallows, whose burrows are unmasked, the entrance to the kingfisher's nesting chamber is often concealed by tree branches. In an old burrow, the lining consists of remnants of fish bones, scales, and beetle elytra regurgitated by the bird. The pollution and unpleasant odor from the burrow are exacerbated by the presence of fly larvae living there. The kingfisher is migratory, but cases of the bird wintering in settlements near unfrozen water bodies are not uncommon.

✵ European roller (Coracias garrulus), order Coraciiformes. A rare vagrant bird. Perhaps some pairs still breed in our region. The bird is slightly smaller than a pigeon, with brilliant violet-blue and rusty plumage. It is very fond of perching on poles and wires. It settles in tree hollows and burrows in clay cliffs, often alongside European bee-eaters. If startled, the roller displays the deep violet undersides of its wings to the enemy and evacuates its bowels. It is now a rare bird, although until the 1970s this species was common. The exact cause of the sharp population decline is unknown. Negative impacts on the population status include the felling of old forest tracts, predation by northern goshawks and beech martens, and The Use of pesticide chemicals. The species requires immediate inclusion in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), order Coraciiformes. A relatively common breeding bird in suitable landscapes of our region. It features bright plumage and an elongated, pointed, and slightly downturned bill. On the tail, the elongated central rectrices form a needle-like projection. It inhabits open steppe areas with cliffs and gullies, as well as river valleys. It nests in colonies of 3 to 25 pairs, making nests in burrows 1.5 m long or more. During excavation work, the bee-eater's bill partially wears down, but it grows back. It feeds on Hymenoptera insects, including bees. Bee-eaters cause a certain amount of damage to beekeeping, so apiarists try to keep the birds away from beehives. The range of this southern species is gradually expanding, and its boundary has now extended northwards all the way to Russia and Belarus.

✵ Hoopoe (Upupa epops), order Upupiformes. A common breeding bird of the Pereiaslav region. It has a large rusty crest on its head that can be fanned out and folded. The hoopoe is a relative of the hornbills. Its Latin name derives from the hoopoe's song "oop-oop-oop...". It inhabits open spaces with sparse forests, groves, and shrubs, as well as orchards and parks. It makes its nests in tree hollows, piles of stones, rock and cliff crevices, and burrows. Due to its broad wings and shallow, somewhat jerky wingbeats, its movement resembles the flight of a butterfly. It loves to bathe in sand, but never bathes in water. It frequently walks on the ground, searching for insects and worms in the substrate with its long bill. When startled, the hoopoe lies flat on the ground, spreading its wings and pointing its bill almost vertically upwards. The bird tosses its prey into the air and catches it so adroitly that it lands directly in its throat. Chicks beg food from adults by displaying the dark red color of their Pharynx, which noticeably pales when the chicks begin to feed independently. During incubation and chick-rearing, the uropygial gland in the female produces a secretion with an extremely foul odor, used as a deterrent. They defend themselves against enemies by spraying foul-smelling droppings precisely at them.

✵ Eurasian wryneck (Jynx torquilla), order Piciformes. A common breeding and migratory bird of the region. Like other woodpeckers, the wryneck has two toes pointing forward and two backward, along with a long sticky Tongue. Unlike true woodpeckers, it lacks stiff tail feathers and does not chisel wood due to its small, weak bill. Therefore, the bird cannot stay for the winter to extract insects from beneath tree bark, nor can it crack nuts or cones. It settles in almost all types of forest biotopes that feature hollows. Having chosen a hollow, the wryneck ruthlessly evicts tits or other birds, discards foreign eggs, or kills the chicks. Cases have been described where eggs were laid directly on top of the corpses of the nest's original owners' chicks. Aggressiveness is also manifested toward members of its own species, so these birds settle no closer than 200 meters from one another. Often, while sitting in a hollow, it peers out and twists its head in all directions, which is how it got its name. When an attempt is made to pick it up, the bird stretches its neck and hisses, impersonating a snake. It feeds mainly on ants and their pupae. Having found an anthill, the wryneck thrusts its long, sticky tongue inside; ants stick to it and instantly vanish into the bird's mouth. Aphids and other insects are eaten less frequently. Reared in captivity, a wryneck loves to insert its worm-like tongue into a person's ear or nostrils.

✵ European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), order Piciformes. A rare vagrant bird of the region; possibly breeds sporadically in Boryspil Raion. It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, old orchards, and parks. It leads a secretive lifestyle. Only during the breeding season does it produce sounds resembling loud laughter. It builds hollows primarily in aspens, willows, black poplars, and other softwoods. Its main food consists of ants and their larvae, which it adheres to its tongue by tearing open anthills. Due to the woodpecker's frequent presence On the surface of the ground, it is sometimes called the earth woodpecker. It digs arm-length tunnels in anthills and occasionally chisels honeycomb. In gardens, it can eat various insects, as well as cherries, sweet cherries, and mulberries. Additional competition may come from the more widespread and numerous grey-headed woodpecker, which lives and feeds similarly. Since the second half of the 20th century, the range BOUNDARIES OF THE green woodpecker have retreated significantly northward and westward, and the population size has declined. The species is currently a candidate for inclusion in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ Grey-headed woodpecker (Picus canus), order Piciformes. An uncommon resident and nomadic bird of the deciduous forests of the Pereiaslav region. In every respect, it resembles the green woodpecker, but is slightly smaller. In the green woodpecker, the red "cap" covers the forehead and nape, whereas in the grey-headed woodpecker, the nape is always grey.

✵ Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), order Piciformes. A rare bird of the region that appeared in the territory of the Pereiaslav region only in the 1980s from the direction of Ukrainian Polissia. The only woodpecker with a characteristic black color and a red cap on its head. It remains resident almost year-round, but young individuals wander during the autumn-winter period. It settles in high-stemmed pine, deciduous, and mixed forests. It makes its hollow at a height of 8-20 meters, most often in aspens or pines, working for 2-4 weeks, 10-13 hours a day. During incubation, a newly arrived partner announces its presence with calls from the outside, and the other responds from inside the hollow with tapping. Only after this is the hollow vacated and the incubation spot taken over by the other. Outside the breeding season, the birds avoid each other, and each woodpecker has its own "bedroom hollow". Abandoned hollows are used by the stock dove, Tengmalm's owl, western jackdaw, and other cavity nesters. Among mammals, spacious hollows are occupied by the beech marten, red squirrel, forest dormouse, and bats. In addition, wasps, bumblebees, and hornets settle in them. The black woodpecker feeds on bark beetles, longhorned beetles, metallic wood-boring beetles, and other insects and their larvae from beneath tree bark, or eats ants and their larvae by making tunnels up to half a meter deep into anthills. In winter, it may eat conifer seeds. While foraging, the bird can destroy rotted stumps and strip bark off the trunks of dead trees from top to bottom. Its natural predators are the northern goshawk and marten. Trophic competition with the species is posed by wild boars, which destroy anthills and decayed stumps. In some cases, competition for nesting sites may arise with other woodpeckers and the stock dove.

✵ Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus major), order Piciformes. A numerous resident and nomadic bird of the region. It settles in all types of forests and anthropogenic plantings. In spring, it frequently "drums" with its bill on a tree branch or trunk to establish territory and attract a female. In settlements, it sometimes uses roofing sheet metal, drainpipes, and other metal surfaces as resonators. To build a hollow, a woodpecker chooses a tree with a rotten core faster than an experienced forester. It is known that if a woodpecker chisels a tree, it is infested with insect larvae. Grown chicks in a hollow are easily located by their calls, which can be heard from morning to night from a distance of over 100 meters. Over the course of a day, parents bring them food up to 300 times. It feeds on beetles, insect larvae, spiders, caterpillars, and ants. A seasonal shift in diet is evident in the woodpecker: with the onset of sap flow in birches, the woodpecker makes horizontal rows of punctures on branches and drinks the sap. In summer, it may consume cherries, sweet cherries, grapes, and mulberries. Frequently, it eats nestlings and clutches of small passerine birds, but primarily insects. In winter, it feeds on conifer seeds, beech nuts, and acorns. In winter, the bird makes a crevice at the top of a dried tree trunk and wedges a cone into it. In a day, it can break apart about 100 cones. By the end of winter, several thousand broken cones have been found beneath some woodpecker "anvils". Therefore, to secure its food supply, the bird stakes out an individual forest plot as early as autumn and chases others away from it.

✵ Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopus syriacus), order Piciformes. An uncommon resident and nomadic bird of the settlements of the Pereiaslav region. Looking like a double, it resembles the great spotted woodpecker and is often found alongside it in the same biotopes. They are easily distinguished by the side of the neck: in the great spotted woodpecker, There are two spots between THE EYE AND the shoulder, whereas in the Syrian woodpecker, they have merged into one. It prefers to settle in tree plantings located in towns and villages. This is a new breeding species for Ukraine, first recorded in 1948 in Transcarpathia and in 1967 on the Left Bank. Today, the species continues to spread across settlements in a northerly direction.

✵ Middle spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus medius), order Piciformes. An uncommon resident and nomadic bird that settles in broadleaved forests dominated by oak and hornbeam. In nature, it differs from other spotted woodpeckers in that it hardly "drums" and is characterized by extreme agility, which earned it its alternative name, the nimble woodpecker. While extracting insects and larvae from tree trunks and under bark, the woodpecker can extend its tongue to a distance four times the length of its bill. In the 19th century, it was more widespread in Ukraine than it is now.

✵ White-backed woodpecker (Dendrocopus leucotos), order Piciformes. A rare vagrant species of the region. Possibly, isolated pairs breed in the forests of Boryspil Raion. It inhabits floodplain, bogged, and insular forests. In nature, it is easily distinguished from its relatives—other spotted woodpeckers—by its white lower back, black shoulders, and broad white bands on the wings.

In the past, it was a fairly common bird, but now it is found in limited numbers in Northern and Western Ukraine.

✵ Lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor), order Piciformes. An uncommon, locally common resident bird of the Pereiaslav region. sparrow-sized, it appears to be a miniature replica of the great spotted woodpecker. This species favors floodplain forests with high humidity and bogged alder groves. It builds a hollow with an entrance hole about 3 cm in diameter in rotted stumps or trunks of aspen, willow, alder, or birch featuring decaying knots. Despite its small size, the lesser spotted woodpecker is a true "drummer". It taps at a frequency of 30 strokes per second, and humans perceive this sound as a buzz. In spring, it "drums" every 5 seconds. Along with this, the bird does not forage on tree trunks like other, heavier "relatives", but instead eats aphids and ants on thin branches, leaves, and tough weed stems that are rarely visited by other woodpeckers. The little bird does not linger on the same tree for more than a minute.

✵ Sand martin (Riparia riparia), order Passeriformes. A common breeding migratory bird of the region. Like all swallows, it has a short bill broad at the base, narrow and relatively long wings, and small, weak legs. These features mark it as a strong flier. They feed on insects and drink water on the wing. Swallows are great helpers for folk meteorologists: in clear weather, insects rise with warm air currents, and the birds fly high in the sky. Before rain, air humidity increases, moisture-laden insects are "pinned" to the ground, and swallows fly low. They settle along steep banks of water bodies, quarries, and gullies a few kilometers away from water. They nest in burrows 0.5-1.5 m deep in colonies of several dozen, hundreds, and less frequently thousands of pairs.

✵ Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), order Passeriformes. A numerous breeding migratory bird of our settlements. It has a reddish-rust "cap" and neck, and the deepest "forked" tail notch among swallows (smaller in females). It attaches a cup-shaped nest made of moistened soil, animal hair, and blades of grass under the roof on the outside of a single-story building or inside a barn or shed. It raises chicks twice a year: in May and July. It catches insects over pastures, meadows, and water bodies, and during rainy, cool weather, it gathers them from the walls and roofs of buildings. The swallow's population is negatively affected by the reduction in available nest attachment sites, which is linked to the decline of rural areas, the decrease in the number of barns where

farm animals are kept, collective farm livestock facilities, etc.

✵ Common house martin (Delichon urbica), order Passeriformes. A common breeding migratory bird of urbanized landscapes. It differs from other swallows by its white rump, while its tail notch is intermediate between that of the barn swallow and the sand martin. It nests in colonies, building a half-bowl-shaped nest under house eaves, balconies, and bridges. The nest is attached to the substrate from the side and top, so the bird enters it laterally through a small opening. The population size is affected to a certain extent by the reduced access of birds to moistened soil for nest-building due to the increasing number of asphalted areas, roads, and well-maintained lawns with mown grass.

✵ Calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra), order Passeriformes. A rare vagrant, possibly breeding bird of the Pereiaslav region. In the mid-20th century, small settlements of this species were found in Baryshivka Raion. In the last decade, sightings of the species have been recorded in Obukhiv Raion of Kyiv Oblast. The main range of the species is currently located in the steppe zone of Ukraine, especially in the eastern regions, where it is numerous during the breeding season. It differs from other larks by its larger size (starling-sized) and two distinct large black spots on the sides of the neck. Its song consists of very melodious chirping and trills, which may incorporate mimicry of the voices of various birds. Another name for the species, *dzhurbai*, originates from the Tatar language and is associated with the presence of gurgling sounds in its song; for instance, the famous waterfall in the southern Crimean foothills is named Dzhur-Dzhur. Bird-song enthusiasts hold the calandra lark in high regard: they catch birds in early spring, keep the most skilled singers until autumn, and then release them into the wild. In addition to its appearance and song, the calandra lark can be readily distinguished from its widespread relative, the Eurasian skylark, by its display flight. It sings while flying in a wide circle, whereas the skylark hovers in one spot, often at a considerable height. Like all larks, it nests on the ground, carefully camouflaging its clutch and chicks.

✵ Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris), order Passeriformes. A relatively rare vagrant and wintering bird of our region. In some years it can be common, while in others it may not arrive at all. The species was last recorded in the late 1980s. The bird nests in the tundras of Eurasia. The characteristic "horns" appear on this lark only in its breeding plumage in spring and summer. It differs from other larks by the combination of black "whiskers" with a black chest band. In winter, they are encountered on roads, wasteland patches, and areas free of snow, where they feed on the seeds of various weeds.

✵ Tree pipit (Anthus trivialis), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and passage migrant species of the Pereiaslav region. Externally similar to its habitat neighbor, the woodlark, but it never fluffs up the feathers on its head the way the latter does. The pipit does not hop along tree branches like other forest birds, but runs along a bough as if on the ground. In nature, the male tree pipit's display flight is hard to confuse with that of any other bird. It sings while taking off from a branch, gaining height amidst a crackling "teer-teer-teer-teer" trill, and then, with spread wings like a butterfly, it "glides" down to the same or another tree while delivering a different sound, "see-ah, see-ah, see-ah". It inhabits all types of forests that feature forest edges, clearings, fresh felling sites, burnt areas, and wastelands if telephone wires are present. It builds its nest in a depression on the ground amidst grass or fern thickets. The cautious bird creates a pathway to it, tunnel-like. To avoid giving away its nest, the pipit lands 7-10 m away from it and proceeds on FOOT, leaving in a similar manner. There are two clutches per breeding season. It gathers food on the ground.

✵ Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris), order Passeriformes. A rare breeding and uncommon migratory bird of the region. The main range of the species is located in southern Ukraine. Externally similar to the tree pipit, but differs by having a much less spotted breast and flanks. It settles not in the forest, but in dry open biotopes: fields, pastures, etc. The song is also different, consisting of a short melodic trill. It sings on the ground or atop a bush. While running along the ground, the little bird constantly straightens its legs, adopting an almost vertical posture, and also rises onto its legs while singing. It builds its nest in hollows or dried-up horse hoofprints (reflected in its Russian common name *konek*, meaning little horse).

✵ Red-throated pipit (Anthus cervinus) and meadow pipit (Anthus pratensis), order Passeriformes. These species do not breed in the Pereiaslav region, appearing here only during seasonal migrations. The former generally inhabits the Eurasian tundra zone, and its small flocks can be spotted locally until the onset of winter. The meadow pipit settles relatively close by, a few kilometers northwest of Boryspil. Over recent decades, this species has been gradually expanding its range southward, so it is quite possible that it will soon reach our region as well.

✵ Western yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird in our region. It inhabits hummocky peat bogs, meadows, fields, and vegetable gardens, especially near water bodies. The nest is built in a small depression amidst dense grass, often featuring a grass "roof." While performing its courtship song—a melodious "psuyly-psuyly..."—the male proudly puffs out his bright yellow chest and flutters his wings. It frequently forages in pastures for insects flushed from the grass by grazing livestock. Running alongside a herd, it moves with such agility that its legs are barely visible. If the cattle walk through tall grass, the bird flies right beside them, occasionally perching on an animal's back for a brief rest.

✵ Citrine wagtail (Motacilla citreola), order Passeriformes. A relatively rare breeding and migratory bird that has been spreading across river valleys into the Middle Dnieper region from northeastern Ukraine since the 1980s. A fairly high population density of this species was recorded in June 2005 in the partially drained marshes between the villages of Polohy-Yanenky and Tarasivka in the Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi district of Kyiv region, and Brovarky in the Zolotonosha district of Cherkasy region. In appearance, the bird closely resembles the yellow wagtail, but it is distinguished by its lemon-yellow head and its preference for wetter biotopes. It breeds in colonies of at least 2 to 5 pairs.

✵ White wagtail (Motacilla alba), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird in suitable habitats of the Pereiaslav region. It differs from our other wagtails by the predominance of white and black in its plumage. It shares the characteristic habit of all wagtail species of "bowing" and slightly jerking or wagging its tail. It loves to sing in flight, hovering in one place. Its song is a soft, twittering melody, and its call is a loud "chee-cheek." They nest in various locations, often close to human habitation, but always near water. In spring, they arrive very early, sometimes in late February after the ice breakup. A month later, they build a nest—always under a sturdy roof in synanthropic conditions, such as beneath a barn overhang, under a bridge, in wall cavities, gaps in stone fences, piles of stones, firewood, or brushwood, or in natural settings like tree hollows, burrows, and riverbanks. They feed on small invertebrates washed ashore by water, insects taking flight from meadow grass, or those found around livestock farms. When chasing a large insect startled in the grass, the wagtail performs intricate pirouettes in the air.

✵ Red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird of the region. Another common name, the thorn shrike, describes it as a typical bird of shrubby thickets, especially where hawthorn and blackthorn grow. It nests in clearings, shelterbelts, shrub-grown ravines, and hedges. In nature, the bird is easily recognized by its distinctive flight: it first swoops down almost to the ground, and just before landing, flies steeply upward to perch on a bush top or telegraph pole. The bird has a nearly vertical posture, short rounded wings, a long graduated tail, and a hooked beak like a bird of prey. Its song is a quiet, squeaky chatter interspersed with attempts to mimic the voices of other birds and surrounding sounds. Its own call note is a harsh "check-check." Shrikes exhibit predatory traits such as a hooked bill and strong talons; they hunt mice and small birds that do not perceive them as enemies and allow them to approach closely. On fair days, a shrike will catch more than it can eat, impaling the surplus on the thorns of a bush. Nestlings are very quiet while in the nest, but During the first week after their initial fledging, they are impossible to miss, signaling their location to their parents with loud chirping.

✵ Lesser grey shrike (Lanius minor), order Passeriformes. A rather rare breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It nests in the vicinity or within human settlements, in forests on acacias, wild pears, and other thorny trees. In its nest, located at heights up to 10 m, wormwood and other fragrant plants are used alongside moss and grass stems. Much like the red-backed shrike, it mimics the songs of other birds, and its call is a harsh "check-check" or "kuyeyek-chok." The behavior of fledglings after leaving the nest, as well as their landing approach, is also similar, though it feeds mainly on beetles, butterflies, grasshoppers, and very rarely preys on small vertebrates. Since the mid-1970s, the population has been gradually declining, particularly in the Polissia and Forest-Steppe zones of Ukraine, though the exact causes remain unclear. Currently, the lesser grey shrike is a candidate for the new edition of the Red Data Book of Ukraine.

✵ Eurasian golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus), order Passeriformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory species in the region. Easily recognized by the bright yellow plumage of the male and the yellow-green coloring of the female, which give it a tropical appearance. Its characteristic song consists of quiet, squeaky, and chattering notes ending in a loud, fluting whistle "fiu-fi-fiu..." (which inspired the bird's Latin name). When alarmed, the bird cries like a jay or a cat, earning it the nickname "forest cat." It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, gardens, parks, and shelterbelts. It weaves a basket-like nest far from the trunk in the fork of horizontal branches using bast fibers and grass stems, which it softens with saliva and firmly secures high up in a tree. The wind does not blow the nest away in winter, so on bare trees, it is easy to see where orioles nested in summer. It feeds on insects, including large hairy caterpillars that other birds avoid, and occasionally on cultivated berries. Due to its bright coloration and dietary habits, it arrives late, after leaves have appeared on the trees, and departs early in late August or early September.

✵ Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus), order Passeriformes. An uncommon wintering nomadic bird of the Middle Dnieper region, slightly smaller than a starling, which breeds in the remote taiga forests of Russia and Scandinavia. In nature, these birds are identified by their characteristic crest, black throat patch, and white wing patches. The Ukrainian scientific name reflects the bird's winter diet of mistletoe berries. The seeds, passing through the birds' digestive tract, stick to cracks in tree bark and sprout anew, meaning waxwings actively aid in the dispersal of mistletoe. They also consume large quantities of rowan, guelder rose, hawthorn, buckthorn, rosehip, and juniper berries, dispersing their seeds in return—a true ecological favor for the forest. The Russian scientific name, *sviristel*, describes the whistling notes of waxwing flocks, sounding like "svirr-svirr."

✵ Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes), order Passeriformes. An uncommon resident and nomadic species in the forests of the Pereiaslav region. It is one of the smallest birds in Ukraine, a fact reflected in its traditional folk name meaning "the size of an ox's eye." Its weight is 9–10 g. In nature, it is easily recognized by its cocked tail, variegated reddish-black plumage, and lively movements. It inhabits various types of damp forests with undergrowth, fern and blackberry thickets, brushwood piles, and areas near water. It is very difficult to spot because it is extremely active, expertly hiding in the thickets, constantly darting along the ground, and flitting through patches of nettles and raspberries. Even in winter, the male perches on a stump or log to sing loudly, hiding immediately afterward. Due to its small size and high heat loss, wrens huddle together on winter nights, roosting in groups of several individuals. Males claim individual territories of about 3–7 hectares, where they begin constructing 4–8 dome-shaped sleeping nests about 10 cm in diameter with a round side entrance. When the female incubates the clutch, the male does not feed her; instead, he forms a pair with another female, and the process may repeat. The male typically manages to help feed all his broods because the chicks hatch at different times. Thus, the wren is a polygamous bird.

✵ Savi's warbler (Locustella luscinioides), order Passeriformes. An unevenly distributed breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It is found primarily in the reed beds along the coastal strip of the Kremenchuk Reservoir. It settles in extensive reed-sedge biotopes featuring open backwaters, willow bushes, and dense thickets. In appearance, the bird resembles a small nightingale, and its song sounds like a green grasshopper or a cricket. It differs from other grasshopper warblers primarily by its song, which begins with a bubbling sound and continues into a uniform, continuous trill "zrrrrrrr..." that periodically swells and subsides, lasting up to a minute. In May, this song can be heard day and night, and in summer, during the mornings and nights. While singing, the male turns his head in various directions, making it difficult to pinpoint the singer's exact location. When threatened, it darts downward and, after a short while, timidly resumes its song from within the thicket, gradually climbing back up to the top of a reed stem.

✵ River warbler (Locustella fluviatilis), order Passeriformes. An uncommon breeding bird in our region. Similar in appearance and biology to Savi's warbler, it prefers drier locations and frequently inhabits stinging nettle patches. In nature, it differs only in its song, which the bird delivers while sitting almost vertically atop a bush. The song is a monotonous chirring "dze-dze-dze..." reminiscent of a cricket, which inspired its Russian name "sverchok" (cricket). The bird can run swiftly through thickets and grass, easily mistaking it for a mouse. It feeds on small, sluggish aphids, flies, caterpillars, and other insects.

✵ Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), order Passeriformes. The most abundant marsh warbler in our local fauna. Smaller than a sparrow, this bird settles in open meadows, marshes, and habitats along various types of water bodies. The Russian name "borsuchuk" (little badger) refers to the light and dark longitudinal stripes on its head, giving the bird a remote resemblance to a badger's face. In this case, the generic name "reed warbler" is somewhat a misnomer regarding its habitat: the sedge warbler does not actually live in reeds, encountering them only during seasonal migrations. Furthermore, its nest is atypical for warblers, being built on or very close to the ground and hidden beneath overhanging grasses. The song consists of a series of crackling sounds.

✵ Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris), order Passeriformes. A fairly common breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits willow thickets and other bushes in drained marshes, overgrown gardens, nettle patches, and along the banks of water bodies, mostly avoiding reeds. It attaches its pot-shaped nest—featuring a wide base and a narrow opening—to plant stems at human knee height. Thanks to this shape, eggs do not tumble out during storms, and just a few weeks after the chicks fledge, no trace of the nest remains. Like the nestlings of other reed warblers, their red mouths feature two black spots on the tongue. The song is highly varied, typically melodious, and composed of the mimicry of other birds' calls, crackling sounds, and whistles. Ornithologists can even determine the wintering regions a particular bird has visited simply by analyzing the composition of its song.

✵ Eurasian reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), order Passeriformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird of the reed beds along the Dnieper coast. Its deep, hanging nests are anchored to reed stems; as the reeds grow taller, the nest is elevated accordingly. Much like the marsh warbler, it can imitate the voices of other birds, but the overall background of its song is quite characteristic of the species. Due to accelerated eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems, Ukraine is experiencing an expansion of reed and cattail thickets, which positively contributes to population growth for this species.

✵ Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird of reed biotopes in the Pereiaslav region. It is found not only in the Dnieper floodplains but also along the floodplains of small rivers (Trubizh, Supiy, etc.) wherever reed beds exist. The largest of the reed warblers, it is about the size of a starling. In nature, it is easily distinguished by its large size and characteristic song. The song is loud, ringing, and crackling, which can be rendered as "karas-karas-karas-lin-lin-lin..." It is an exceptional mimic and may even weave gull cries into its repertoire. When singing, it opens its bill so wide that its bright orange-red throat lining becomes clearly visible. It attaches its basket-like nest to 3–4 reed stems at a height of 60–120 cm above the water. It raises a single brood per season.

✵ Icterine warbler (Hippolais icterina), order Passeriformes. Classified among the uncommon breeding and migratory species of the Pereiaslav region. In size and build, it closely resembles the reed warblers (except for the great reed warbler), but differs in plumage tones: greenish-olive upperparts and pale yellow underparts. Additionally, the icterine warbler stays mostly in the tree canopy, from where its song rings out. It inhabits light deciduous and mixed forests with dense undergrowth, primarily at forest edges and in parks. Its nest is cone-shaped with the apex pointing downward, invariably lined with thin birch bark (*beresta*, which inspired the Ukrainian name for the bird), and built in trees at a height of 2–4 meters above the ground. Like reed warblers, it weaves the calls of other birds into its song, earning it the Russian name *peresmeshka* (mockingbird). During song displays, males fluff the feathers on their heads, revealing a bright orange mouth lining. They rarely ever descend to the ground.

✵ Barred warbler (Sylvia nisoria), order Passeriformes. A relatively rare breeding migratory bird in our region. Regarding adjacent areas, our highest recorded population density of this species occurred in June 1995 on a sandy peninsula overgrown with purple willow within the Skliareve tract opposite the village of Mykhailivka in the Kaniv district. In nature, it differs from other shrub-dwelling birds by its "hawk-like" plumage—a barred underside and a yellow iris, which earned it the Russian name *yastrebinnaya slavka* (hawk warbler) and the Latin specific epithet *nisoria*. This appearance allows the bird to frighten off predators, even those significantly larger than itself. Incidentally, the cuckoo has a similar "hawk outfit," though for a different purpose—to intimidate the owners of the nest where it lays its parasitic egg. The male barred warbler has a distinctive flight: it launches upward, flies in a zigzag pattern toward a bush, and lands, only to take off a minute later and return near its starting point. Frightened or disturbed birds will frequently abandon their nest and build a new one elsewhere.

✵ Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla), order Passeriformes. An abundant breeding and migratory bird of the region's forest tracts. It is about the size of a sparrow. In nature, it is recognized by the black (in males) or brown (in females) cap on its head. Its song is a quiet chatter consisting of unhurried, pure, low, and resonant fluting whistles that last for a considerable time, growing louder toward the end; its call is a harsh "tek-tek." It inhabits deciduous and mixed forests, building its nests in bushes and less frequently on the lower branches of trees.

✵ Garden warbler (Sylvia borin), order Passeriformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It inhabits clearings, forest edges, gardens, and parks with dense shrub vegetation. It differs from other warblers by its uniform upperparts and its melodious trills and whistles lacking a fluting termination, which it never performs in flight. The song vaguely resembles the babbling of a brook, and its call is a somewhat nasal "chak-chak-chak" or "tak-tak." It nests in bushes.

✵ Common whitethroat (Sylvia communis), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird in our region. It can be encountered in any biotope featuring even small patches of shrubs. In nature, it is recognized by its small size (slightly smaller than a sparrow) and grayish plumage tones contrasting with a white throat. During its crackling chatter, the male puffs out its throat, raises the feathers on its head and throat, and sometimes launches vertically into the air. Its song is a medley of chattering notes that can be transcribed as "tirlie-vityurlie-chet-chit-titirlie." More often than other warblers, this species anchors the walls of its basket-like nests to nettle stems, which is how the entire family received its scientific name in Ukrainian. ^{• •}

✵ Lesser whitethroat (Sylvia curruca), order Passeriformes. An uncommon breeding and migratory species of the Pereiaslav region. It differs from other warblers by its smaller size and the dark streak running from the bill through the eye to the nape. It inhabits various forest types, gardens, and shrub thickets. Its spring song begins with the quiet, unassuming chatter typical of the genus

and concludes with a loud, ringing trill "klyo-klyo-klyo-klyo..." that gradually fades away. In Russia, this bird's trill earned it the colloquial name *melnichok* (the little miller). It builds its nest in a bush or tree. Like other warblers, it is very skittish near the nest and may desert the clutch if humans inspect the eggs.

✵ Wood warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus), order Passeriformes. An uncommon, locally common bird of the region. The southern limit of the species' range runs through the Pereiaslav territory. All leaf warblers are considerably smaller than a sparrow—agile birds with uniform greenish-gray plumage that inhabit various types of forests and brushwood. They look very similar to one another but are easily distinguished by their songs. The wood warbler's song is a series of pure whistles blending into a trill. It builds its nest on the ground in the shape of a small lean-to or a sphere with a side entrance.

✵ Common chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita), order Passeriformes. An abundant breeding and migratory bird of our locality. Its song resembles the ringing drip of water—"tin-tyan-tyun..."—which inspired the Russian name *tenkovka*, or the sound of a blacksmith striking an anvil with a hammer. Sometimes this prolonged and steady "chiff-chaffing" is interrupted by a quiet trill "- tr...tr...tr...". This exact sound is produced when a blacksmith stops actively hitting the anvil, but the hammer continues to bounce from the resilient metal out of inertia, creating a characteristic blacksmith's trill. The chiffchaff's call is a short, soft "fyuuit."

✵ Greenish warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), order Passeriformes. A common, locally abundant breeding migratory bird of the Pereiaslav region. It features yellow stripes above its eyes, resembling "eyebrows." Among leaf warblers, it arrives the latest in spring, after the forests have already leafed out. The bird acquired its Russian name *treshchotka* (rattle) due to its distinctive crackling song. It begins with a fairly loud whistle and ends with a uniform trill reminiscent of an electric sewing machine: "sip-sip-sipsip-sipsipsip-sipspirrr." During song displays, the male frequently flits with a fluttering flight from branch to branch.

✵ European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), order Passeriformes. A fairly common breeding and migratory species in the region. It inhabits deciduous, mixed, and coniferous forests, parks, and orchards featuring old hollow trees or nest boxes. Like other members of the flycatcher family, it has bristles at the base of its bill. The male features a striking, high-contrast black-and-white plumage somewhat reminiscent of a magpie. In summer, its presence is betrayed by a short, squeaky chatter, a ticking call resembling "tet" or "pvit", and the characteristic wing-shivering typical of flycatchers. The bird quickly and softly flicks its wings open and closed while bobbing its tail up and down. Flycatchers hunt for insects in mid-air and for their larvae on trees. The bird snaps up its prey with such force that an audible click of the bill can be heard, which shears off the insect's wings and legs. The flycatcher does not entirely live up to its name, as flies do not form the bulk of its diet (two-thirds of its food intake consists of slow-moving insects gathered from tree foliage and grass).

✵ Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis), order Passeriformes. A scarce breeding and migratory bird of the region. It predominantly inhabits deciduous forests and readily occupies artificial nest boxes. In appearance, voice, and behavior, it is very similar to the European Pied Flycatcher. In the field, females and juveniles of these two species are nearly impossible to distinguish, whereas the breeding male collared flycatcher features a distinct white collar around its neck. A monogamous species, though polygamy has been noted in individual males.

✵ Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva), order Passeriformes. A scarce, locally rare breeding and migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. It exhibits typical behavioral traits for the genus, yet is small in size. With its reddish-brown breast and throat, the male resembles the European robin, but the red coloration never extends onto the forehead. It builds its nests in tree hollows or semi-cavities.

✵ Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata), order Passeriformes. Classed among the scarce breeding and migratory birds of the region wherever there are stands of trees. It is more common in populated areas, where it nests under eaves, on building wall ledges, and in nest boxes. Males and females share the same coloration—grayish above and whitish below. It enjoys perching for long periods on branches, wires, or rooftops, occasionally twitching its tail. Upon spotting a passing fly, butterfly, or other insect, it suddenly launches into the air, deftly snatches it on the wing, and returns to its perch with a flutter of its wings. On warm, sunny days the bird catches prey in flight, whereas on rainy or cool days it gathers larvae and spiders from trees, shrubs, and even the ground.

✵ Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird of open landscapes in the Pereyaslav region. Smaller than a sparrow, with a short tail, brown upperparts, a white belly, and a ruddy breast. It settles in dry meadows, fallow lands, pastures, forest edges, and shrub-grown clearings. The species disappears from fields subject to mechanized farming. Because even a blade of grass can support its weight, it favors perching on the tips of upright, vertical stalks of grass. The whinchat captures insects on the ground, and when they take flight, pursues them in the air, catches them on the wing, and returns to its original perch while fluttering its tail much like a flycatcher. The female camouflages her nest on the ground so skillfully that it is extremely difficult for a human to spot, yet magpies and crows manage to find and devour the eggs in half of all clutches. The distracting behavior of the parents, which inadvertently give away the proximity of the nest, plays no small part in this. The bird emits a quiet twitter, and when danger threatens, utters a "check-check" alarm call, from which its common name is derived.

✵ European Stonechat (Saxicola torquata), order Passeriformes. A rather rare breeding bird of the region. Similar to the whinchat, but the breeding male features a black head lacking the white supercilium above the eye. It inhabits stony areas with sparse scrub, wasteland, and ravine slopes. Locally, it is most frequently encountered in the vicinity of settlements, in orchards, vegetable gardens, and dry meadows. The female builds her nest at a height of up to 50 cm, invariably close to the spot where the male sings. When an intruder approaches the nest, the birds fly around it, beating their wings and tails to divert the unwelcome visitor away from the clutch.

✵ Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), order Passeriformes. A scarce breeding and migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. Sparrow-sized, long-legged, and characterized by an upright, vertical body posture. When perched, it frequently bows, dips, and bobs its tail up and down. The overall coloration of the male is gray with a white underbelly, black wings and tail, and a prominent black facial mask. It invariably stays on the ground or upon various elevated vantage points. Nests are built under stones, heaps of shingle, in rock crevices, rodent burrows, bee-eater holes, and along railway embankments and dams. It may also nest beneath roofs, in building crevices, and in foundation ventilation vents.

✵ Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus), order Passeriformes. A rather rare breeding species in our area. Sparrow-sized, but considerably more slender. In breeding plumage, the male features a white forehead and a black throat and upper chest. The underparts of both male and female are a rich, reddish-rust color. Upon flushing from or approaching its nest, the redstart twitches its tail, revealing a fiery reddish-orange hue that appears to "glow." It settles primarily in open woods, parks, clearings, and populated areas. The population is threatened by competition from the black redstart, which has rapidly expanded across residential areas since the early 1960s.

✵ Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), order Passeriformes. Within the settlements of the Pereyaslav region, this species is common yet scarce. In summer, its body plumage is black, with somewhat lighter wings and reddish-rust tail edges. It inhabits almost exclusively urbanized landscapes. Nests are built in various cavities and crevices of buildings, under roofs, in old swallow nests, and more rarely in natural biotopes. Population numbers have increased due to the species' range expansion across Ukraine in northerly and easterly directions.

✵ European Robin (Erithacus rubecula), order Passeriformes. A common, locally abundant breeding and migratory bird of forest tracts in our region. It features an olive-brown back, a whitish belly, and an orange-rust forehead, Cheeks, throat, and breast. It is also known colloquially as the ruddock. Widespread in forests, parks, and orchards with undergrowth and dense bushes. The male begins to sing at dawn. It continues singing well after sunset, when other songbirds have gradually fallen silent. The song begins haltingly before transitioning into a beautiful, trilling cascade. Unlike most of our songbirds, the robin sings in autumn as well. The male defends his occupied breeding territory not only against rival males, but initially against his own mate as well; his aggression is triggered by the orange coloration on her chest. Interestingly, the fledglings are likewise tolerated on their parents' territory only until their own orange breast patch develops. Unlike their parents, juveniles are less cautious and timid than adults, and may watch with curiosity as humans gather mushrooms.

✵ Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), order Passeriformes. A common breeding and migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. It possesses a uniform brownish plumage and is slightly larger than a sparrow. Spotting one in nature is quite difficult, yet hearing one is rather simple. In spring, following The Emergence of the first leaves, it sings around the clock, though most intensely late in the evening and at night. While singing, the bird assumes a slightly hunchbacked posture with drooping wings. Young males learn their craft from older ones by imitation; thus, in areas where even a single accomplished singer appears, the song quality of others improves. Should birdcatchers capture the finest singer, or should it perish, the subsequent generation will sing less skillfully. The song of individual nightingales can comprise up to 40 distinct strophes (groups of sounds repeated in a specific sequence). Nests are constructed on the ground. Much like the robin, the fledglings leave the nest after two weeks before they have learned to fly. It feeds on invertebrates, and in autumn is particularly fond of elderberries.

✵ Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica), order Passeriformes. A scarce breeding and migratory bird of wetland habitats in our region. Males are distinguished by a brilliant blue chin, throat, and upper breast, bordered below by a russet band. In the center of the breast, the male bears a rufous or white patch, which serves to differentiate the red-spotted and white-spotted forms of the bird. In females, the throat and breast are whitish. It settles in damp, scrub-overgrown meadows, hummocky bogs, swampy forests, and along the shores of water bodies. Its song bears a slight resemblance to that of the nightingale, but also mimics the calls of other birds. During song display, the male holds its head and tail high. Like the nightingale, it frequently sings during the night hours.

✵ Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus), order Passeriformes. A scarce breeding and migratory bird of the Middle Dnieper floodplains, which invariably keeps to reed beds. Males are characterized by a gray head and black "moustaches"—elongated black feathers against a pale chin. The tail is long, graduated, and pointed at the tip. Its call is a ringing "chwain-chween". Unlike other tit species, the bearded reedling builds open nests, meaning its nestlings remain in the nest for a relatively brief period of 9–12 days. Among European birds, the nestlings of the bearded reedling possess the most brilliantly colored gape. Bound by a strong attachment, pairs remain mates for life and are kept in captivity strictly as partners; if one partner dies, the survivor does not live long either. In the latter half of the 20th century, the creation of artificial reservoirs gave rise to new expanses of common reed and cattail, creating favorable conditions for the expansion of the species' range.

✵ Eurasian Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus), order Passeriformes. A scarce breeding and migratory bird, and one of the smallest in the Ukrainian fauna (weighing 8–11 g). The Head and Neck are grayish-white, with a black stripe running from the corners of the mouth through the eye. It settles near water where shrubs or trees grow. It is upon their branches that the bird constructs its renowned purse-like nest, suspended 1–3 meters above water, or significantly higher—up to 10 meters—when no body of water is present. The male initiates construction entirely on his own and actively entices females. Initially, a swing-like ring is built from plant fibers on a forked branch; side walls are then woven until the nest resembles a basket with a handle. Once a pair has formed, the female completes the nest, giving it the appearance of a small glove. The bird masterfully weaves willow and poplar down amongst the plant fibers, rendering the Structure wind-resistant for several years. The penduline tit has a very specific voice—a prolonged, thin whistle or squeak: "tsee-ee, tsee-ee".

✵ Marsh Tit (Parus palustris), order Passeriformes. A scarce resident species of the region. It inhabits deciduous and, less frequently, mixed forests in river floodplains, orchards, and parks. In the wild, they are recognized by their prominent black cap (giving rise to their alternative scientific name) and characteristic song—a ringing "tsvi-tsvi-tsvi-tsvi...". Nests are established in tree hollows, crevices, and decayed stumps. Compared to other tits, this species exhibits strong territorial conservatism, remaining steadfastly on its breeding territory year-round. In winter, the marsh tit, alongside other tit species and woodpeckers, is a frequent visitor to bird feeders, where it stands out as the only bird to snatch multiple pieces of food in its bill and fly off immediately to cache them under tree bark.

✵ Willow Tit (Parus montanus), order Passeriformes. A rare vagrant and breeding bird of the Pereyaslav region. Conceivably, isolated pairs settle in the northwestern sector of the region—within the forests of the Boryspil District of Kyiv Oblast. Very similar in appearance and ecological traits to the marsh tit, it nevertheless favors coniferous forests and delivers a rapid, melodious song: "tee-tee-tee-tee-tee...".

✵ Crested Tit (Parus cristatus), order Passeriformes. Likely a rare breeding species of the northwestern Pereyaslav region. It features a distinctive crest on the nape, which is smaller in the female. Like most tits, it builds its nest in tree hollows or nest boxes, occasionally rearing its young inside the abandoned nests of large birds of prey or squirrels. Similar to the marsh tit, the species is territorial. Young birds move up to 10 km during their first 3–4 months of life in search of future breeding territory. In summer and early autumn, they cache food (insects, spiders, seeds) for the winter, tucking it into bark crevices, branch fissures, and between pine needles.

✵ Coal Tit (Parus ater), order Passeriformes. A rare vagrant and presumably breeding bird of the Pereyaslav region of taiga origin, suspected to inhabit the Boryspil District. It differs from other tits by its smaller size, overall dark plumage, and a white patch on the nape. It settles in coniferous and mixed forests. Its song is a ringing "tsee-pee, tsee-pee..." or "tee-tee-twee".

✵ Eurasian Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus), order Passeriformes. A common resident and partial migrant of the region. In nature, they are distinguished from the great tit by their smaller size and blue cap. It possesses a short, conical bill compressed laterally. The feet are strong, equipped with robust toes and curved claws well-adapted for tree-climbing, often hanging upside-down from terminal twigs. In winter, it may forage alongside other tits, yet maintains a pair bond somewhat apart from the flock.

✵ Great Tit (Parus major), order Passeriformes. The most numerous tit species in the Pereyaslav region and the largest of our tits, which can be observed near human dwellings in winter and heard singing as early as February. It is easily recognized by its brilliant yellow breast and the black tie-like stripe running down from the throat almost to the tail. Beyond typical tree hollows utilized by all tits, the species may nest in quite unexpected locations: discarded buckets, stovepipes, mailboxes, and nest boxes. Should a flycatcher or other small bird invade its nest cavity, the intruder may perish from blows delivered by the tit's robust bill. Given its body size, the female lays a substantial clutch (10–13 eggs). Because keeping them warm with her own body alone is exceedingly difficult, the tit insulates the nest with moss, feathers, and hair. Until all eggs are laid and incubation commences, the female covers them over with nesting material. On occasion, the female lays a second clutch directly on top of the fledglings of the first brood before the latter have left the nest. In parks, great tits may take food from an outstretched human hand, though two individuals will never alight on the same hand or tiny feeder. In past years, people frequently hung out food in winter in bags or mesh nets outside their windows; the tits eagerly pecked at lard, meat, or punched through foil bottle caps on milk containers. Social learning and partner imitation played a major role in The Development of this behavior.

✵ Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea L.), order Passeriformes. A common resident and partially nomadic bird of deciduous and mixed forests in our area. It derives its common name from the habit, unique among our birds, of "creeping" up and down tree trunks head-first. In doing so, it does not use its tail for propping from below, as woodpeckers or treecreepers do, but instead positions its feet—equipped with long, strut-like toes—one ahead of the other. However, when feeding, the nuthatch partly emulates woodpeckers: in winter, it wedges seeds, acorns, and nuts into bark crevices and hammers them open with its bill. The bird lays up food stores in autumn in a similar fashion, concealing anywhere from 5 to 30 grams—and occasionally up to 2 kilograms—of food in each of its caches. The nest is built in a tree hollow, with the entrance plastered over with mud to narrow it to the necessary size; sometimes, up to a quarter of a kilogram of clay mortar is used to plaster and restrict the cavity opening. The bottom of the nest is lined with pieces of pine bark. In winter, the nuthatch frequently associates with tit flocks.

✵ Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris), order Passeriformes. A scarce resident and partially nomadic bird of the Pereyaslav forests. It possesses a brownish-rust protective coloration that provides excellent camouflage against tree bark, a sharp, down-curved bill, and large, strong toes. For nesting, it selects crevices and fissures in tree trunks or cavities beneath loose bark, from which its scientific and common names derive. The treecreeper invariably climbs trees from bottom to top in a spiral path around the trunk. Upon thoroughly inspecting one tree, the bird flies to another and begins anew almost from ground level. In the post-breeding period, it frequently joins mixed foraging flocks with tits.

✵ European Serin (Serinus serinus Pallas), order Passeriformes. A relatively rare breeding and migratory bird of the Pereyaslav region. It settles in cultural landscapes: orchards, parks, and dacha developments, and has been recorded in the Boryspil, Yahotyn, and Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi districts. In nature, it is identified by its small size and greenish-yellow underparts. From a distance, it resembles a siskin, but lacks a black cap, and its bill is significantly shorter and stouter. The male exhibits highly characteristic courtship behavior, spreading its tail and wings and swirling among tree branches, power lines, and in the air while singing continuously. The song is highly melodious, bearing some resemblance to the trilling gurgle of cicadas. It nests in trees (favoring conifers) and bushes. Formerly, the species was encountered exclusively in Western Ukraine, but its modern range margin is expanding in easterly and northeasterly directions.

✵ European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris), order Passeriformes. A common breeding, migratory, and partially resident bird of our region. It inhabits forest edges, shelterbelts, parks, and populated areas. Sparrow-sized, it is distinguished by its green plumage and melodious trill terminating in its characteristic, drawn-out "vwzhzhzhy" sound. Nests are built in trees and bushes, typically no higher than 3 meters above the ground. It feeds on seeds and insects.

✵ Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus), order Passeriformes. A scarce migratory and wintering species of the Pereyaslav region. Isolated pairs may sporadically breed on the right bank within the Kaniv Nature Reserve, where instances of fledglings of this species being captured have been documented. Currently, the bird breeds consistently only in the Carpathian region, and sporadically in Polissia and Crimea. With its yellow-green plumage, the siskin resembles the greenfinch and European serin. The siskin has historically been one of the most favored subjects for bird enthusiasts, as it quickly becomes tame and possesses a rather varied, melodious song.

✵ Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), order Passeriformes. A common resident, breeding, and nomadic bird of the Middle Dnieper region. Adult birds stand out with their black, white, and red head plumage and a yellow wing bar. Particularly striking is the red band—a "mask" around the beak that looks as though it were carefully drawn by a makeup artist. Due to this, the goldfinch has earned the folk moniker "painted bird". Its preferred habitats include orchards, parks, shelterbelts, forest edges, and weed-overgrown areas, the seeds of which make up its diet. Using its sharp beak like a pair of tweezers, the bird extracts seeds from the seed heads of dandelions, thistles, and other plants. During the winter, bird populations are adversely affected by weather conditions when seeds of hemp, curly dock, burdock, dandelion, birch, alder, and other forage plants become covered in a thick layer of snow, frost, or ice, rendering them inaccessible.

✵ Common linnet (Acanthis cannabina), order Passeriformes. A fairly common breeding, migratory, partially resident, and nomadic bird of our region. The breeding male features a red crown and breast, while the female is brownish-gray. Its song is a medley of melodic whistles and trills, delivered from telegraph wires, hedgerows, and bushes. It feeds primarily on the seeds of burdock, curly dock, hellebore, and other herbaceous plants. The species' common name reflects its affinity for hemp seeds. Back when hemp was a vital fiber crop cultivated in almost every village, this name accurately described reality. In recent times, the most fitting designation would be the Russian vernacular "ryepolov" or the Ukrainian "repyakhivka".

✵ Common redpoll (Acanthis flammea), order Passeriformes. A scarce, and in some years common, migratory winter visitor to the Pereyaslav region. These birds arrive from the tundra in mid-autumn and inhabit weed-choked open landscapes. Adult males sport a red crown and a brownish-gray upper body, whereas females display a pink hue only on the forehead. Their call—"che-che-che...", "chi-chi-chi...", or "chev-chev-chev..."—gives the bird its Ukrainian and common names.

✵ Scarlet rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus), order Passeriformes. A scarce, locally rare breeding migrant of the Middle Dnieper region. It settles in floodplain thickets, swampy meadows with brushwood, and forest clearings near water sources. About the size of a sparrow, males are easily distinguished in nature by their vivid cinnabar-red head and breast; females are much harder to identify. While singing, the male produces frequent whistling notes—"chiu-vichiu", which sounds almost like it is pronouncing "che-che-vy-tsya" or "vityu-vidyel?", which inspired the bird's Ukrainian name. This species is of northern origin and is rarely found south of the Cherkasy region. It nests in shrubs and trees at a low height above the ground.

✵ Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), order Passeriformes. A relatively common breeding, migratory, and partially resident bird of the Pereyaslav region, and abundant on the right bank in the hornbeam forests of the Kaniv district. It inhabits mixed and deciduous forests, groves, and parks. Among other passerines, it stands out for its size (comparable to a starling), massive head, and huge beak. It flies swiftly, but walks or hops rather slowly on the ground. Evidently due to its heavy head, the hawfinch maintains a vertical posture when moving. The nestlings are covered in long white down, bordered by yellow gape flanges, and have bright blue mouths. They feed on the fruits and seeds of beech, sweet and sour cherries, blackthorn, hawthorn, apples, pears, maples, linden, alder, sunflower, and more. Nestlings are fed primarily on insects, with parents capable of crushing even "armored" beetles. A family of hawfinches feasting on a cherry tree is a remarkable sight: the birds spray juice and scatter pulp to reach the pit. They then manipulate the pit in their beaks until the weakest seam is facing upward. Using its tongue, the hawfinch extracts the kernel from the cracked pit and shakes its head to fling away the shell. When attacked, these birds defend themselves with powerful bites, exerting a pressure of up to 45 kg. They bite relentlessly and can break through to the bone.

✵ Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), order Passeriformes. A common breeding, nomadic, and partially resident bird of our region. It inhabits sparse forests, shelterbelts, parks, gardens, and fields. Easily recognized in the wild by its bright yellow breast and head, which is reflected in its Latin species name (*citrinus* meaning lemon-yellow). Most of the bird's life is tied to the ground; while it can perch in trees, it does not hop from branch to branch. The distinct motif of the yellowhammer's song was chosen by the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven as the theme for his Fifth Symphony, which he shortened while retaining the potential for numerous variations on the theme. In summer, the yellowhammer feeds on insects, whereas in winter it consumes wild grass seeds or visits human settlements.

✵ Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), order Passeriformes. A common, locally abundant breeding migrant of the wetlands along the Middle Dnieper. Unlike other buntings, it spends most of its time in reedbeds, although it builds its nest on the ground in dry areas adjacent to bodies of water. The male is distinguished by a black head and throat set against a general reddish-gray plumage. Its song is a fairly loud "shri-shri-tiri-tiri...".

✵ Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), order Passeriformes. A rare migratory winter visitor to our region, encountered from November to early March. In the field, the bird is recognized by the contrasting black-and-white plumage of the males, characteristic of inhabitants of the Eurasian tundra zone.

Bird Acclimatization in the Pereyaslav Region

✵ Common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), order Galliiformes. Between 1954 and 1971, a total of 6,250 pheasants—including 1,452 kept in enclosures—were released across hunting grounds in the Kyiv region (such as "Manuylsk" and Myzhhiria near Kyiv, Makiivka tract in the Bila Tserkva district, Dymer hunting enterprise, and the Brovary, Bohuslav, and Pereyaslav-Hmelnytskyi districts). The dynamics of the total number of introduced birds were as follows (year / number of individuals):

Note: numerator represents the total number, denominator represents the number distributed.

Pheasants were released across all oblasts of Ukraine (72,409 individuals between 1951 and 1971), yet they were successfully acclimatized only in certain southern regions. Among the primary reasons for failure were poorly suited release sites selected during the summer period. In winter, once trees lost their leaves and grass was covered by snow, these highly visible birds lacked sufficient cover and were easily caught on the ground by foxes and stray dogs, or ambushed from the air by large hawks. In some areas, pheasants completely vanished after the first snowfal. Female pheasants, which tend to hunker down and hide on the ground, more frequently fell prey to foxes, whereas brightly colored males became targets for hawks. Additional factors hindering successful pheasant acclimatization include deep snow cover at release sites, food shortages, injuries sustained by released birds, improper sex ratios, agricultural operations, poaching, etc.