Garrulus
Strichelhäher (Garrulus lanceolatus )
The genus falco is a comprehensive three species group species quite large, waldbewohnender jays in the family of corvids ( Corvidae ). One type is found in large parts of Eurasia, the other two in fairly limited areas in Asia.
Description
The three Häherarten are medium large black birds of about 32-38 cm body length. They have striking light blue and black banded feathers on wing, hand and large coverts. In part, can also be found on the wing and tail feathers also blue - black banded games. The body plumage is reddish gray-brown to dark brown or maroon. The crest feathers are elongated and form a varying degree, sometimes something deployable hood. The broad wings are of medium length, the beak is like the feet vigorously. The length of the tail is stepped in the three species, of a medium length tail at Jay, to a rather long during Prachthäher.
Dissemination
The distribution of the genus is restricted to the Old World. The Jay colonized large parts of Europe, the far north Africa and parts of the Middle East and Asia. It inhabits mainly richly textured woods almost all kinds The Strichelhäher comes in the Hindu Kush and the Himalayas from the east of Afghanistan to Nepal, where he inhabited open woodland or bush clad slopes with scattered trees 1500-2400 m altitude. The Prachthäher is endemic to the Ryukyu Islands, where he was at home on Amami - Oshima and Tokunoshima once, but was cut off on the latter island due to feather trade in the early 20th century. He lives in subtropical woodlands.
Way of life
The species of the genus falco are omnivorous, but mainly collect nut fruits of trees, such as acorns, and invest it supplies. The nests are usually applied freely in trees, the Jays also breeds sometimes, the Prachthäher preferably in tree and semi- caves.
System
The genus falco was spun in 1760 by Brisson in the genus Corvus. Today, even the types of formerly monotypic genera Laletris Reichenow, 1906 ( Strichelhäher ) and Lalocitta Reichenow, 1906 ( Prachthäher ) are placed in this genus. The two Asian species Strichel and Prachthäher are closely related and apparently Allospecies a super species or form the subgenus Lalocitta. With the Jays, which is divided into eight Megasubspezies and with the Strichelhäher also occurs sympatric, they form a group of species.
Species
- Jay ( falco tinnunculus )
- Strichelhäher (Garrulus lanceolatus )
- Prachthäher ( falco lidthi )