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Bird champions and record-holders

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International Bird Day is celebrated on April 1 because that is when birds start returning from their seasonal migration. Birds have their own champions and record-holders, for example, the fastest and the strongest, the most enduring and the most dexterous, the biggest and the smallest, and finally the most beautiful feathered creatures.

International Bird Day is celebrated on April 1 because that is when birds start returning from their seasonal migration. Birds have their own champions and record-holders, for example, the fastest and the strongest, the most enduring and the most dexterous, the biggest and the smallest, and finally the most beautiful feathered creatures.

© RIA Novosti . V.Bohonov / Go to the mediabankThe Great Bustard is possibly the heaviest living flying animal, alongside the similarly sized Kori Bustard. An adult male typically is 90–110 cm (3.0–3.6 ft) long with a 2.1–2.5 m (6.9–8.2 ft) wingspan and usually weighs from 10 to 16 kg (22 to 35 lb).

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The Great Bustard is possibly the heaviest living flying animal, alongside the similarly sized Kori Bustard. An adult male typically is 90–110 cm (3.0–3.6 ft) long with a 2.1–2.5 m (6.9–8.2 ft) wingspan and usually weighs from 10 to 16 kg (22 to 35 lb).

© RIA Novosti . Dmitry Korobeynikov / Go to the mediabankThe ostrich is the fastest flightless bird. It can accelerate at up to 72 km/h. The ostrich is also the only bird that has a bladder.
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The ostrich is the fastest flightless bird. It can accelerate at up to 72 km/h. The ostrich is also the only bird that has a bladder.
© RIA Novosti . G.Koposov / Go to the mediabankThe Penguin is a unique bird that can swim, but cannot fly. Penguins nest in big colonies of several thousand pairs or more. Parent Penguins take it in turns to keep the eggs warm.
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The Penguin is a unique bird that can swim, but cannot fly. Penguins nest in big colonies of several thousand pairs or more. Parent Penguins take it in turns to keep the eggs warm.
© RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankBirds are fascinating creatures. Some, like the tufted puffin, can even fly under the water. Like all birds of the auk (Alcidae) family, tufted puffins move underwater using their wings.
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Birds are fascinating creatures. Some, like the tufted puffin, can even fly under the water. Like all birds of the auk (Alcidae) family, tufted puffins move underwater using their wings.
© RIA Novosti . Dmitry Korobeinikov / Go to the mediabankKiwi are flightless anourous birds. They have strong leg muscles with sharp claws. The bird is the national symbol of New Zealand. Its image is on the national emblem and the New Zealand dollar. There are no live Kiwis left in the wild. Though it is included in the Red book and protected, in the past 100 years, kiwi numbers have decreased from several million to several thousand.
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Kiwi are flightless anourous birds. They have strong leg muscles with sharp claws. The bird is the national symbol of New Zealand. Its image is on the national emblem and the New Zealand dollar. There are no live Kiwis left in the wild. Though it is included in the Red book and protected, in the past 100 years, kiwi numbers have decreased from several million to several thousand.
© RIA Novosti . Michail Mordasov / Go to the mediabankThe peacock has the most beautiful plumage of all fowl-like birds and the ugliest voice. The Burmese subspecies of a Javanese peacock is the national symbol of Myanmar, and the ordinary peacock is the official national symbol of India and the unofficial national symbol of Iran.
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The peacock has the most beautiful plumage of all fowl-like birds and the ugliest voice. The Burmese subspecies of a Javanese peacock is the national symbol of Myanmar, and the ordinary peacock is the official national symbol of India and the unofficial national symbol of Iran.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Lyskin / Go to the mediabankThe Polar Owl is the biggest bird in the Arctic. Females are larger than males. They have a body length of 55-65 centimeters, a wingspan of 150-160 centimeters; and a weight of 1.5-2 kilograms. Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue.
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The Polar Owl is the biggest bird in the Arctic. Females are larger than males. They have a body length of 55-65 centimeters, a wingspan of 150-160 centimeters; and a weight of 1.5-2 kilograms. Owls are the only birds that can see the color blue.
© RIA Novosti . Viktor MelnikAlmost all Amazonian parrots can simulate human speech. One of the most gifted is the Yellow-headed Amazon. Unlike the majority of speaking parrots, Amazons can "chat" to humans and even interrupt conversations with loud remarks.
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Almost all Amazonian parrots can simulate human speech. One of the most gifted is the Yellow-headed Amazon. Unlike the majority of speaking parrots, Amazons can "chat" to humans and even interrupt conversations with loud remarks.
© RIA Novosti . A.Solomonov / Go to the mediabankThe speed of the Peregrine falcon during an attack can reach 322 km/h.
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The speed of the Peregrine falcon during an attack can reach 322 km/h.
© RIA Novosti . Vladimir Fedorenko / Go to the mediabankFlamingos have the longest legs of any other bird. They live mainly in the tropics and subtropics. They also nest on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan.
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Flamingos have the longest legs of any other bird. They live mainly in the tropics and subtropics. They also nest on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan.
© RIA Novosti . Sergey KirkachThe biggest pelican is the Dalmatian. It reaches up to 180 centimeters in length and 15 kilograms in weight and has a wingspan of 3 meters. The bones of a pelican are hollow and light — the weight of a pelican’s skeleton makes up only 10 percent of its body weight.
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The biggest pelican is the Dalmatian. It reaches up to 180 centimeters in length and 15 kilograms in weight and has a wingspan of 3 meters. The bones of a pelican are hollow and light — the weight of a pelican’s skeleton makes up only 10 percent of its body weight.
© RIA Novosti . Alexandr Alpatkin / Go to the mediabankWaxwings are unable to split out berries and so swallow them whole instead. The birds can eat so many berries in one day that they double in weight.
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Waxwings are unable to split out berries and so swallow them whole instead. The birds can eat so many berries in one day that they double in weight.
© RIA Novosti . Anton Denisov / Go to the mediabankSeagulls drink salty sea water because their tonsils are adapted for salt filtration.
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Seagulls drink salty sea water because their tonsils are adapted for salt filtration.
© RIA Novosti . Igor Zarembo / Go to the mediabankRussia is home to six species of cormorants. Two are included in the Red book of endangered species.
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Russia is home to six species of cormorants. Two are included in the Red book of endangered species.
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