wild geese
Swallow
eagle
stork
pigeon
cuckoo
crane
gull
bird
parrot
wild geese
Vertebrates, a general term for birds in the class Aves, family Anatidae, subfamily Anseriae. They are large waterfowl, but adept fliers. Their size and appearance are generally similar to or smaller than domestic geese. They have broad, thick bills with relatively wide nails. Their beaks have blunt, comb-like projections. Most species have predominantly light grayish-brown plumage with markings. They feed on tender leaves, fine roots, and seeds of plants, and some also eat grains from farmland. They are common migratory birds in my country, such as the Swan Goose, Bean Goose, and Great White-fronted Goose. They migrate north to Siberia after the spring equinox and south again after the autumn equinox. Geese nest and breed in the north; the nests are very simple, constructed of reeds and aquatic plants near water, shaped like a basin, and lined with a layer of feathers. The female lays 7-8 eggs at a time, and the goslings hatch after about 4-5 weeks. They can swim and forage in the water and can fly in the summer. When geese migrate south, the older geese often form a V-shape or a straight line, using updrafts to glide and conserve energy. Changing formations and replacing the lead goose is advantageous for long-distance flights. During rest periods, they feed on fish, shrimp, and aquatic plants, while the older geese act as lookouts to prevent attacks. It takes about one to two months for them to reach the tropical south.
Swallow
Swallows, scientifically known as Hirundinidae, are a collective term for 74 species of birds in the order Passeriformes. They are small, with narrow, pointed wings, a forked tail, a short beak, weak legs, and relatively few feathers. Their plumage is solid-colored, or has a metallic sheen of blue or green; most species are very similar in appearance to the sexes. Swallows spend a significant amount of time catching insects in the air, making them one of the most agile passerines. They primarily feed on insects such as mosquitoes and flies, and are well-known beneficial birds. They nest in tree cavities or crevices, burrow in sandy areas, or in urban and rural areas, attaching mud to walls or protrusions of buildings such as stairwells, rooftops, and eaves. They lay 3-7 eggs at a time.
eagle
In a broad sense, "eagle" refers to small to medium-sized diurnal falcon-like birds, especially those belonging to the genus *Achilles*, including the goshawk and sparrowhawk. The term "eagle" is also often used to refer to other species in the family Accipitridae, and even to certain falcones. Eagles are carnivorous, catching mice, snakes, hares, or small birds. Larger eagles (eagles) can prey on goats, sheep, and deer. They are majestic in appearance and fierce in temperament, and are zoologically classified as birds of prey. The most common eagles in my country are the goshawk, sparrowhawk, and Eurasian sparrowhawk. my country's *Wildlife Protection Law* clearly stipulates that all birds of prey are nationally protected animals at least at the second-class level, and their capture, sale, purchase, breeding, and harm are strictly prohibited.
stork
Storks are a general term for a large family of waterbirds, comprising 19 species. They can be found in most of the warmer regions of the Earth. Storks are migratory birds and excellent fliers. They have long legs and slender, webbed claws. They possess long, strong, and sharp beaks. Their plumage is typically white and black, but some species have almost no feathers on their heads or heads and necks.
pigeon
Pigeons are very common birds, widely kept around the world. The term "pigeon" is a collective name for hundreds of species of birds in the family Columbidae of the order Columbiformes. The pigeons we usually refer to are only one species in the genus *Columba*, specifically the domestic pigeon. The most common domestic pigeons are homing pigeons, primarily used for communication and racing. Pigeons have lived alongside humans for thousands of years. The first image of a pigeon discovered by archaeologists comes from Mesopotamia, around 3000 BC, which is now Iraq.
cuckoo
Original meaning: A small bird, specifically referring to the cuckoo. Also known as Guo Gong, Du Yu, Bu Gu, and Zi Gui. A common bird with grayish-brown upperparts and white underparts with dark horizontal bars. Its distinctive feature is its two-syllable call. It lays its eggs in other birds' nests to incubate them, eats caterpillars, and is a beneficial bird. The character is a phono-semantic compound. It is composed of "bird" (鸟) and "肙" (肙), with "肙" also serving as the phonetic component. "肙" means "small and delicate." Together, "肙" and "bird" represent "a small and delicate bird."
crane
Cranes are the common name for birds of the Gruidae family, a group of beautiful and elegant large wading birds. The Gruidae family is divided into two subfamilies: Grusinae and Crested Grusinae, comprising four genera and 15 species. The Grusinae subfamily has three genera and 13 species, distributed across all continents except South America, with the largest number of species in East Asia. China has two genera and nine species, accounting for more than half of the world's 15 crane species, making it the country with the most crane species. All nine of these crane species are national key protected wild animals in China. The hind toe of the Grusinae subfamily is small and positioned high, unable to oppose the front three toes, thus preventing them from perching in trees. The Crested Grusinae subfamily has one genus and two species, endemic to Africa. Unlike cranes, the Crested Grus can perch in trees. Cranes hold a revered position in Chinese culture, especially the red-crowned crane, which is a symbol of longevity, auspiciousness, and elegance, often associated with immortals and also known as the "fairy crane."
gull
Gulls, belonging to the family Laridae, resemble white doves or small white chicks in appearance. They are fierce, with long legs, long beaks, and webbed toes, making them excellent swimmers. They prefer to fly in flocks and lay eggs in March. Gulls living by the sea are called seagulls, while those living by lakes or rivers are called river gulls.
There is another type of gull that comes and goes with the ebb and flow of the tide; people call it the "messenger gull".
bird
The finch family comprises 152 genera and 677 species worldwide, with 21 genera, 86 species, and 123 subspecies found in my country. Among them, the Sun Rosefinch, Tibetan Finch, Blood Finch, Golden-naped Blackfinch, Red-headed Finch, Rose-crowned Bunting, and Blue Bunting are endemic to my country.
They feed on fruits, seeds, and insects. Sparrows are generally small birds, similar in size and color. Their upperparts are typically mottled with brown and black, hence the common name "sparrow." They have nine primary flight feathers; the pale edges of the outer feathers (except the first one) are slightly enlarged at the base and near the tip, forming two horizontal bands that are particularly noticeable in flight. Their beaks are short, stout, and strong, conical in shape with a slightly curved culmen. Except for the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, males and females are dimorphic. There are 27 species worldwide, five of which are found in my country. Their distribution is quite widespread, especially the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, which is found in almost every province of China. Except for the Black-breasted Sparrow, which has a narrower distribution, found only along a line from Yanqi to Tashkurgan on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains, the other species are quite common. They are found on almost every continent and adjacent islands, especially in Europe and Asia, and are a typical genus of the Palearctic realm. Common species such as the tree sparrow and the house sparrow are among the most common birds in urban and rural areas of my country. They were once wrongly listed as one of the "Four Pests" and were indiscriminately hunted. The main difference between the two is that the tree sparrow has black spots on its cheeks, while the house sparrow does not.
parrot
Parrots belong to the order Psittaciformes and are a diverse group of brightly colored, vocal birds. Typical climbing birds, they have zygodactyl feet (two toes forward and two toes backward) suitable for grasping, and strong beaks capable of eating hard-shelled fruits. With their vibrant plumage, they are often kept as pets. They are admired and loved for their beautiful feathers and ability to mimic human speech. The largest parrot is the hyacinth macaw, which can reach 100 cm in length, while the smallest is the blue-crowned short-tailed parrot, which is only 12 cm long.
Most parrots primarily feed on fruits, seeds, nuts, berries, and tender shoots from trees or the ground, and also consume small amounts of insects. Lorikeets, on the other hand, mainly feed on pollen, nectar, and soft, juicy fruits.
Parrots are distributed worldwide, spanning vast areas of temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions. They are incredibly diverse, comprising 2 families, 82 genera, and 358 species, making them one of the largest families in the class Aves. They are primarily found in tropical forests. In the Southern Hemisphere, some species have expanded into temperate regions, while others have reached remote islands. The greatest variety of parrots is found in Latin America and Oceania, with far fewer species in Africa and Asia. However, Africa boasts some well-known species, such as the African Grey Parrot, Lovebirds, and Peacocks. Among Latin American parrots, the most famous are the various large macaws. Parrots in Oceania are even more diverse than those in Latin America.
