Common lentil (lat. Carpodacus erythrinus) Is a bird that belongs to the order of passerines, the family of finches.
Appearance
The body is about 18 cm long and weighs 80 g. The wingspan varies from 20 to 25 cm. In an adult male, the chest with the head and upper tail is painted in a crimson or burgundy color. He has brown wings and a back. The loin is red. The red tinge fades from the chest to the undertail, which is gray. The coverts are usually gray, and the tail feathers are brown, with red edges. The upper coverts are brownish, their tops are red. Crimson tones appear only by the 3rd year. Females and one-year-old males have a gray coloration. The loin along with the upper tail has an olive tint. There are many dark streaks on the head and back. The lower part of the body is pale gray, the chest has a buffy coating. Sometimes the individual has streaks on the belly. The beak and legs of mature individuals are brown.
This bird differs from similar species by the monochromatic color of the wings and the fact that there are no yellow colors in the plumage.
Voice
The song of the common lentil – chirping. In the finale, the bird whistles loudly, as if asking something. Usually it is conveyed like this: “Did you see Vitya?” The bird can pronounce “tyuv” and “chui”.
Singing common lentil
Nesting
The place for the “home” is usually chosen by the female. She builds the nest. It is often found in bushes or young trees, sometimes on white turf, willow or bird cherry. Nests can also be found at the edges of forests, in burnt-out areas and very rarely in villages.
The nest is located at a height of one and a half to 2.5 m. It is made from oak branches or bedstraw stalks. The ends of the branches stick out. The tray is well laid out, made of fluff and roots. The diameter of the “house” is about 16 cm, its height is more than 9 cm.
Marital behavior
Lentils are monogamous. Immediately after arrival, the birds form pairs and begin to build nests. During mating, a current is observed. The male, located on the upper branch of the tree, raises his crest and inflates his throat and then whistles four-syllable syllables without interruption. Sometimes it flies from branch to branch.
If there are several males next to the female, they engage in fights, which end in the expulsion of the male from the best place for trill. While singing, the expectant mother is on the lower branch or on land, where birds usually mate.
The clutch of this bird can contain 2-6 eggs. They are colored blue, all speckled with black dots. The parameters of the eggs are 19 by 14 cm. The female lays eggs in the last days of May or at the beginning of June. Autumn migration begins in September.
Molting
Molting usually occurs in August. Youngsters acquire red plumage only after the second molt, then their color becomes more saturated. Feathers become more vibrant in spring.
Enemies
Common lentils have many enemies. Despite the fact that it is difficult to find the nest, since it is located in the densest thickets, cats attack them. Other enemies are representatives of mustelids and large predatory birds. Weasels usually attack not only birds, but also their offspring. They destroy the nests of lentils. To protect themselves from predators, lentils do not set up shelter too high. These birds are more vulnerable in winter when they come closer to humans.
The marten is the enemy of common lentils
