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Birds Of Mountains And Moors
Mountain slopes are usually covered with deciduous forest, above which lies a belt of coniferous forest before the tree line is reached. Above this level, only low plants grow, and at the summit there may be nothing but bare rock and howling winds. Even at such altitudes, birds may brave the cold and make their homes. Some, like the ptarmigan and grouse, can scratch a living from the ground by eating plants or insects. Snow buntings or snow finches may also be seen, their white plumage helping to camouflage them against any snow. Eagles may soar high in the air, riding the gusts of wind as they seek prey on the ground below, and ravens fly from rock to rock ready to scavenge anything they may find. Several birds, including the peregrine falcon, use mountain crags and high cliffs for nesting, seeking to avoid the attentions of animals hungry for eggs and young birds.
Moors are high areas of open land, covered with rough grass or other low plants such as heather. There may be a few scattered trees, but the land is too dry and windswept to allow many trees to grow even if it was once covered with forest. There are several ground-living birds, including the meadow pipit and larks such as the skylark and woodlark that find insects and seeds to eat on the ground, often all the year round. These little brownish birds are effectively concealed by the low plants and nest among them. Larger birds live on moors and open uplands too. During the summer, plovers and sandpipers including the long-beaked curlew and whimbrel come to nest, but leave for the seashore or fields below in winter where they can continue to root and dig for food. Grouse live among the heather all the year round, foraging for young shoots, seeds and insects.
Mountain slopes are usually covered with deciduous forest, above which lies a belt of coniferous forest before the tree line is reached. Above this level, only low plants grow, and at the summit there may be nothing but bare rock and howling winds. Even at such altitudes, birds may brave the cold and make their homes. Some, like the ptarmigan and grouse, can scratch a living from the ground by eating plants or insects. Snow buntings or snow finches may also be seen, their white plumage helping to camouflage them against any snow. Eagles may soar high in the air, riding the gusts of wind as they seek prey on the ground below, and ravens fly from rock to rock ready to scavenge anything they may find. Several birds, including the peregrine falcon, use mountain crags and high cliffs for nesting, seeking to avoid the attentions of animals hungry for eggs and young birds.
Moors are high areas of open land, covered with rough grass or other low plants such as heather. There may be a few scattered trees, but the land is too dry and windswept to allow many trees to grow even if it was once covered with forest. There are several ground-living birds, including the meadow pipit and larks such as the skylark and woodlark that find insects and seeds to eat on the ground, often all the year round. These little brownish birds are effectively concealed by the low plants and nest among them. Larger birds live on moors and open uplands too. During the summer, plovers and sandpipers including the long-beaked curlew and whimbrel come to nest, but leave for the seashore or fields below in winter where they can continue to root and dig for food. Grouse live among the heather all the year round, foraging for young shoots, seeds and insects.
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Typical moorland frequented by Curlews in the summer season
Carpercaillie
Curlew
Skylark
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