LOMONOSOV MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY BIRDS AND MAMMALS of Zvenigorod Biological Station Faculty of Biology in winter

Pavel Kvartalnov

The aim of this booklet is to give introductive information about the diversity of birds and mammals active in winter months in forests, river valleys and near Pavel Kvartalnov human settlements in area of Zvenigorod Biological Station of Moscow State University to a person unfamiliar with nature of European Russia. Mainly commonest animals are BIRDS AND MAMMALS included whom someone can meet during short-term excursions. For a better identification a reader should use OF ZVENIGOROD BIOLOGICAL STATION a more specialized literature. IN WINTER Descriptions and sketches of birds and mammal and their traces are based on author’s experience and on pictures in L. Svensson (2009) and A.N. Formozov (2006). Manual for international students Descriptions of bird calls are based on L. Svensson (2009) and C.M. Perrins (1979). 2nd edition Transliterations of Russian names of birds and mammals are placed in square brackets.

Literature Formosov A.N. (2006). [Naturalist’s Guide]. – Moscow: URSS. Perrins C.M. (1979). British Tits. – London: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. Svensson L. (2009). Collins Bird Guide. – London: Harper Collins Pub. Moscow 2017 1

Woodpeckers family – Picidae Middle Spotted Woodpecker – Dendrocopos (Dendrocoptes) medius [srednii pyostriy dyatel] Black Woodpecker – Dryocopus martius Uncommon in forest. Undertail feathers rosy. [zhelna] All birds have red crown. Call a weak “kick”. The largest woodpecker, nearly crow-sized. All- black except red crown in males or red nape in Lesser Spotted Wodpecker – females. Call a loud “krrück krrük krrük” or “kliii- Dendrocopos (Dryobates) minor eh”. Uncommon, mainly in forest. [maliy pyostriy dyatel] Small, often seen with titmice flocks. Only Great Spotted Woodpecker – male has red crown. Call “kick”. Common. Dendrocopos major *bol’shoy pyostriy dyatel] Three-toed Woodpecker – Commonest medium-sized woodpecker. Adult Picoides tridactylus [tryokhpaliy dyatel] birds lack red crown, only male has red nape. Uncommon in forest. Small, lacks red in plumage. Dark-red undertail feathers are characteristic. Male has yellow crown. Call a soft “bick”. White patches on wings. Call a sharp “kick!”. Green Woodpecker – White-backed Woodpecker – Picus viridis [zelyoniy dyatel] Dendrocopos leucotos Rare. Bright-green with red crown. [belospinniy dyatel] Uncommon, mainly in river valleys. Medium- sized, with white back, lacks white patches Grey-headed Woodpecker – on wings. Rosy undertail feathers. Only male Picus canus [sedoy dyatel] has red crown. Call “byück”. Rare. Green with grey head. Red forehead in male.

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Titmice family – Paridae Crested Tit – Parus (Lophophanes) cristatus [grenadyorka] Great Tit – Parus major Uncommon in forest, usually [bolshaya sinitsa] in pairs with mixed-species flocks, in tree Common in forest and near crones. Crest is always visible. Plumage mainly settlements, in winter usually in brownish. Call a characteristic “burrurret”. flocks. Yellow below and greenish above with pure-white cheeks. Male has large black patch on the belly. Calls Willow Tit – Parus (Poecile) montanus “chink” and “cha-cha-cha”; basic song “teacher-teacher”. [pukhlyak] Common in flocks in forest and near Coal Tit – Parus (Periparus) ater settlements. Light grey with black cap [moskovka] and small black bib. Calls “zee-zee-zee” Common in flocks with other or harsh “tchay”. tits, sometimes in large migrating parties. Small, grayish-buff below, grey above. Has large Titmice from below bib and white nape. Tail short. Cheeks pure white. Call a thin “tsee-tsee-tsee”; song “teachoo-teachoo-teachoo”.

Blue Tit – Parus (Cyanistes) caeruleus [lazorevka] Common in river valleys and near settlements; in small groups or with other tits. Small, yellow below and greenish above, with blue cap and bluish wings and tail. Cheeks white. Call a thin Great Tit Coal Tit Crested Tit Willow Tit Blue Tit “tsee-tsee” and a trill “tsee-tsee-tsu-tsuhuhuhuhuhu”. male male

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Goldcrest – Regulus regulus Hazel Grouse – Tetrastes bonasia [korolyok] fam. Regulidae [ryabchik] fam. Tetraonidae Smallest wintering bird. Greenish with Rather small hen-like bird, usually seen flying up in forest yellow or orange stripe on the head. Common in forests in with wing noise. Grey ramp. Song of flocks, also with titmice. Call high-pitched “zree-zree-zree”. fine notes “tsii-u-iih ti, ti-ti-ti-ti”.

Long-tailed Tit – Aegithalos caudatus Jay – Garrulus glandarius [opolovnik] fam. Aegithalidae [soyka] fam. Corvidae Small bird with very long Common bird in forest and gardens. Plumage pinkish grey- tail. Common in river valleys, brown. Rump pure white. Pale blue patch on wing. Call loud “kschaach!” or Goshawk-like “kya-kya-kya-…” more rare in forest, in tight flocks, often with titmice. Calls sharp “eez-eez-eez” and “tsirrip” (in alarm).

Treecreper – Certhia familiaris [pischukha] fam. Certhidae Small bird grayish-brown above that search for food on trunks using tail for support. Bill thin. Call a strong Nutcracker – Nucifraga nucifraga “tüüt”. Rather inconspicuous. [kedrovka] fam. Corvidae Uncommon in forest. Dark brown with white spots. Rump Nuthatch – Sitta europaea dark. Call loud “krrrreh”, usually in series. *popolzen’+ fam. Sittidae Common in forest, often joins to titmice flocks. Blue-gray above, with red-brown

feathers under short tail. Very active. Calls

loud and sharp “zit”, “ziit”, etc.

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Great Grey Shrike – Lanius excubitor Raven – Corvus corax [seriy sorokoput] fam. Laniidae [voron] fam. Corvidae Rare, in winter usually in river valley Large, wholly black. Common or in fields. Solitary. Wings with white but usually solitary or in pairs. patches. Usually silent. Call a loud “korrp”.

Jackdaw – Corvus monedula Hooded Crow – Corvus cornix [galka] fam. Corvidae [seraya vorona] fam. Corvidae In groups or flocks in Common near human villages, common. Rather settlements. Usually in groups small, blackish. Call “kya”, usually in or flocks. Grey with black head, wings series. and tail. Call “kraah kraah kraah”.

Corvidae birds in flight Rook – Corvus frugilegus [grach] fam. Corvidae Uncommon in winter, usually in company with Crows and Jackdaws. Size of Crow, black. Old birds have pale bill. Call “gra gra grah…” Hooded Crow Magpie

Magpie – Pica pica Raven [soroka] fam. Corvidae Common in river valleys and in human settlements. Black and white, with long tail. Call “tsche-tsche-tsche-tsche”. Jackdaw Rook

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Fieldfare – Turdus pilaris Bullfinch – Pyrrhula pyrrhula [ryabinnik] fam. Turdidae *snegir’+ fam. Fringillidae Common in river valleys and near Common bird, usually in human settlements, usually in parties. Male pinkish-red, flocks. Grey head and rump. Ochre female grayish-buff. White rump. breast. Call “schack-schack-schack”. Call a fluiting “plüit”.

Mistle Thrush – Turdus viscivorus Hawfinch – Coccothraustes [deryaba] fam. Turdidae coccothraustes Rare, solitary bird, in forest [dubonos] fam. Fringillidae or river valleys. Best Rare, solitary bird, near human identification by call – a dry settlements. Rather big finch, rattle “zer’r’r’r’r’r’”. plumage rusty-brown and buff. Broad white wing-band. Call a Waxwing – Bombycilla garrulus sharp “pix!” [sviristel’+ fam. Bombycillidae Common, in forest or near human settlements, in parties. Reddish-buff plumage; yellow tail-tip, yellow and white on wing. Call “sirrrrr”.

Bullfinch Hawfinch

Mistle Thrush Waxwing Fieldfare

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Common Crossbill – Loxia curvirostra Greenfinch – Carduelis (Chloris) chloris [klyost-yelovik] fam. Fringillidae [zelenushka] fam. Fringillidae Common in conifer forests, often in Common in villages, solitary or in parties. Sometimes sings in winter. small groups. Plumage mainly Male mainly brick-red, females grey-green. Yellow on primaries and yellowish-green. Call “glipp”. tail. Usual calls unmusical “dschrüüüüuh”, also clear trill “tuy-tuy-tuy-tuy-tuy”.

Goldfinch – Carduelis carduelis Siskin – Carduelis (Spinus) spinus [schegol] fam. Fringillidae [chizh] fam. Fringillidae Common in parties, mainly in river Common, in parties or large flocks, valley. Small, with red “face”, bright feeds mainly in tree crones. Small; yellow wing-bars. Calls musical wings dark with contrasting yellow “tickelitt”. markings. Male mainly greenish- yellow, female grayish-green. Call Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus “tluih”. [polevoy vorobey] fam. Ploceidae Common in villages, usually in parties. Redpoll – Carduelis (Acanthis) flammea Head red-brown, cheeks pure white. [chechyotka] fam. Fringillidae Call “tsuwitt”. Common, in parties or large flocks, often with Siskins. Small, House Sparrow – Passer domesticus in appearance and behaviour [domoviy vorobey] fam. Ploceidae like Siskin, but no green or yellow in plumage. Common near humans. Grey Greyish, with red forecrown. Male with red breast. Call crown in male. Female dirty Siskin-like “jüitt” and repeated “chett-chett-chett”. brown above and dusky below. Call “chilp chev” etc.

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Owls family – Strigidae Hawks family – Accipitridae

Ural Owl – Strix uralensis Goshawk – Accipiter gentilis *dlinnokhvostaya neyasyt’+ [yastreb-teterevyatnik] Fairly large owl, uncommon in forest. Uncommon in forest. Large hawk. Grey with quite long tail. Wings fairly long. Male bluish-gray above, Regularly seen in daylight. size of Hooded Crow. Female slate-grey Song “wo-ho……… woho uhwo-ho”. above, larger than Hooded Crow. Silent in winter.

Tawny Owl – Strix aluco *seraya neyasyt’] Middle-size owl. Common in forest but rarely seen in daylight. Grey with short tail. Song “hoooouh…….ho, Sparrowhawk – Accipiter nisus ho’ho’ho’hoooouh”. [yastreb-perepelyatnik] Common in forest and in river Pygmy Owl – Glaucidium passerinum valleys. Wings more rounded than *vorob’iniy sychik+ in Goshawk. Slate-grey above. Common in forest and in river Male rufous on breast, smaller valleys. Small, grey-brown above. than Hooded Crow. Female size False “face” on hindneck. of Hooded Crow. Silent in winter. Silent in winter.

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Rough-legged Buzzard – Buteo lagopus Bird footprints [zimnyak] fam. Accipitridae Rare, can be seen searching for voles over fields. White tail with dark terminal band. Call “piiiyay”.

Kestrel – Falco tinnunculus *pustel’ga+ fam. Falconidae Rare. Small falcon. Grey-brown below. Searches for voles over Tawny Owl fields. Silent in winter.

Feral Pigeon – Columba livia *siziy golub’+ fam. Columbidae Hazel Grouse Common near human settlements. Only pigeon or dove wintering in the region. Usually silent.

Mallard – Anas platyrhynchos [kryakva] fam. Anatidae Large duck, rare on movements between unfrozen water bodies. Call “rhaeb”.

Great Spotted Woodpecker Magpie Common Gull – Larus canus [sizaya chayka] fam. Laridae Rare on movements between unfrozen water bodies.

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Order Insectivora Order Rodentia Microtus voles – fam. Cricetidae European Mole – Talpa europaea Small terrestrial hamster-like mammals with [krot] fam. Talpidae short tails. Active under snow. Usually walk Common in fields, forests on snow surface, can use short hops. and in river valley. Active in winter but mainly Common Vole – Microtus arvalis under earth. Only [obyknovennaya polyovka] molehills can be seen Common, mainly in fields. over snow cover. Southern Vole – Microtus levis Shrews – fam. Soricidae (syn.: Microtus rossiameridionalis) Small terrestrial mammals with long tails. [vostochnoyevropeyskaya polyovka] Active under snow. Usually walk or run by Common, mainly near human settlements. hops on snow surface. Tundra Vole – Microtus oeconomus Eurasian Water Shrew – Neomys fodiens [polyovka-ekonomka] [kutora] Inhabits wet meadows, flood plains. The largest species, lives mainly along streams and rivers in forests. Bank Vole /Red-Backed Mouse/ – Myodes glareolus Common Shrew – Sorex araneus (syn.: Clethrionomys glareolus) [obyknovennaya burozubka] [ryzhaya polyovka] fam. Cricetidae Common in different stations. Small, mainly terrestrial rodent, not rarely uses snow surface, Pygmy Shrew – Sorex minutus where run by hops. Tail is not as [malaya burozubka] long as in mice. In forests and near Uncommon in forests. humans. Eats spruce seeds from cones.

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Order Rodentia Order Rodentia

Water Vole /Water Rat/ – House Mouse – Mus musculus Arvicola amphibius *domovaya mysh’+ fam. Muridae (syn.: Arvicola terrestris) Common in human settlements. [vodyanaya krysa] fam. Cricetidae Resembles true rat in size and Harvest Mouse – Micromys minutus appearance. Inhabits banks of rivers *mysh’-malyutka] fam. Muridae and ponds. Common. Common in river valleys, traces are rarely seen in winter. One can find only abandoned nests built on grass stems. Brown Rat – Rattus norvegicus [seraya krysa] fam. Muridae Squirrels – fam. Sciuridae Inhabits human settlements. Red Squirrel – Sciurus vulgaris Mice – fam. Muridae [belka] Fairly small rodents with long tails, mainly terrestrial, not Common in forests and gardens. rarely use snow surface for feeding. Run by long hops. Arboreal, but often hops on snow surface. Digs out acorns and nuts Ural Field Mouse – Apodemus uralensis from under snow. Eats spruce *lesnaya mysh’+ seeds from cones. Common in forests. Siberian flying squirrel – Striped Field Mouse – Apodemus agrarius Pteromys volans [letyaga] *polevaya mysh’+ Common in forests, but strictly Common in river valleys, forest edges, gardens. arboreal and nocturnal, so animals and their traces are rarely seen. Yellow-necked Mouse – Apodemus flavicollis *zheltogorlaya mysh’+ A large mouse. A recent invader, inhabits riverside forest. Spruce cone eaten by Red Squirrel

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Order Rodentia Order Carnivora, fam. Mustelidae Small carnivorous mammals with long European Beaver – Castor fiber body and short legs. Traces with [bobr] paired imprints of right and left paws Active in winter, but only traces of are common. summer and autumn feeding can be seen on river banks. European Pine Marten – Martes martes [lesnaya kunitsa] Common in forests. Arboreal, but often uses snow surface. Quite large. Brown above, with white breast. Order Lagomorpha European Polecat /Forest Polecat/ – Mustela putorius *chyorniy khor’+ Snow Hare /Mountain Hare/ – Traces as large as that of Marten, but Lepus timidus [zayats-belyak] Polecat is terrestrial, inhabits mainly Common in forest. Traces are more villages and fields. Dark-brown with compact and paws imprints are whitish spots on head. wider than in Brown Hare. Runs by American Mink – Neovison vison long leaps. White in [amerikanskaya norka] winter. Introduced species that replaced indigenous European Mink (Mustela lutreola). Little smaller than Marten, inhabits banks of rivers and ponds. Black with small white chin. Stoat /Ermine/ – Mustela erminea [gornostay] Brown Hare /European Hare/ – Common in fields and forest edges. Small. White in winter, Lepus europaeus [zayats-rusak] with black tip of the tail. Inhabits fields and forest edges. Least Weasel – Mustela nivalis [laska] Common. Greyish-brown in winter. Common in forests and villages. Smaller than a stoat. Often hunts under snow. White in winter.

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Order Carnivora Order Artiodactyla

Dog – Canis (lupus) familiaris [sobaka] fam. Canidae Wild Boar – Sus scrofa Traces of domestic and feral [kaban] fam. Suidae dogs are common in Common in forests. Often in groups. Zvenigorod biological station Foot imprints are large and area. generally wider than in Elk. Imprints of dew claws are usually visible.

Red Fox – Vulpes vulpes [lisitsa, lissa] fam. Canidae Uncommon in forests and in Elk /Moose/ – Alces alces fields. Imprints of paws in *los’+ fam. Cervidae winter are more round than in Common in forests, solitary or in dogs. Tracks are linear. small groups. Foot imprints are large, generally more narrow than in Wild Boar. Imprints of dew claws Domestic Cat – Felis (sylvestris) catus are rarely seen. [koshka] fam. Felidae Traces of domestic and feral cats are common near human Roe Deer – Capreolus capreolus settlements and in fields. [kosulya] fam. Cervidae Uncommon in Zvenigorod biological station area, in forest and in fields. Foot imprints are relatively small. Eurasian Lynx – Lynx lynx *rys’+ fam. Felidae Rare in forests. Typical cat paws imprints, although large.

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Small mammals Blanc page (for notes)

Bank Vole Ural Field Mouse Common Vole Striped Field Mouse

Water Vole

Common Shrew Pygmy Shrew

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