GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BABY BIRDS OF THE BIG TIT (PARUS MAJOR L.) IN THE CENTRAL CHERNOZEM REGION
The research of early ontogenesis of the Big Tit has shown higher rates of growth of nestlings in the Tambov region in comparison with the northern and eastern populations. The stabilizations periods in character of growth are typical for all studied features, except legs. The level of variability of morphological structures at nestlings is differing depending on age groups: at the beginning of the nesting period the weight of a body and length of a bill varies, up the time of a start from a nest the length of wings and legs varies.