It is difficult to imagine that in cold weather some bird can hatch its chicks, but this is really so. And it's not even penguins. These birds live in Russia, and among the coniferous forests they form pairs and build nests. The thing is that in the course of evolution they have adapted to heat their home and offspring in a special way, so they are not afraid of the cold.
Instructions
Step 1
In Russia, in winter, in frosts, very interesting birds - crossbills - hatch chicks. Babies appear most often in January-March. Scientists largely explain such strange timing for reproduction by the diet of crossbills. The fact is that these birds eat the seeds that they get from the cones. In winter, there are a lot of cones in the forest, so crossbills prefer to breed during this harsh time. The beak of the crossbills outwardly resembles ticks. Hence the name of this bird appeared. With such a beak it is very convenient to get seeds from cones of conifers.
Step 2
Everyone knows that the temperature in Russia in winter often drops below minus 20-30 ° C. Breeding offspring and keeping them warm in such conditions is incredibly difficult. The nests of the crossbills outwardly resemble baskets, the birds carefully insulate them from the inside. To do this, crossbills use moss and various plant fibers, they weave all this into the bottom and walls of the nest.
Step 3
Another feature of crossbills, which helps them to obtain healthy offspring in the winter season, is that the female constantly warms the clutch with the heat of her body. As soon as she lays the first egg, she practically does not leave the nest anymore, and this does not depend on the timing of the appearance of subsequent eggs. The crossbills do not wait for the end of the clutch, they immediately begin to incubate the chicks.
Step 4
The care of the crossbill father about his family is also striking. Throughout the entire time of incubation of eggs, it is he who obtains food for himself and brings it to the female. Even at the time when the chicks have already hatched, but are still too small, the female does not leave the nest, and the caring father continues to feed her and his offspring. Crossbill chicks remain in the nest for a long time, about three to four weeks. There they warm each other with the warmth of their bodies. Crossbill parents diligently feed their precious offspring with gruel from seeds, which is formed in birds' goiters.
