Free birds

Almost every Russian is familiar with the sparrow-sized chaffinch. Unlike its urban cousin, the chaffinch is easily spotted by its vibrant coloring. Males are particularly distinctive: they have a bright red chest, a greenish-brown back, and a blue head. Females are less distinctive, with duller coloring. In the wild, their life cycle lasts no more than two years, but in captivity, chaffinches can live up to 12 years.

Currently, the Russian Federation is home to over 750 bird species. Among them are birds we often see and others we've never even heard. Few have seen a lark in person or even heard its famous song, but everyone has heard stories about these remarkable birds from their mothers and grandmothers.

The Russian desman is among the rare and amazing animals. This animal has inhabited planet Earth for over 30 million years. The Russian desman is currently listed in the Red Data Book of Russia as a critically endangered species. Learn about this animal, its appearance, and its habitat in this article.

The tit family includes approximately 65 species of small birds, ranging in body length from 100–180 mm and weighing from 7 grams to 20–25 grams. In Europe, the tit is one of the largest birds, with a large body and long tail, and a wingspan reaching 30 centimeters. This fascinating bird is found in many places around the world.

The jackdaw belongs to the Corvidae family, the Passeriformes order, and the genus Crow. In appearance, it resembles a pigeon, only with a different coloring.

There are slight variations in the bird's size depending on its habitat. The main differences are the presence or absence of a partially whitish collar at the base of the nape, variations in the nape shadow, and the underparts' color.