Surely every resident of our country is familiar with the cheerful lines: "Chizhik-Pyzhik, where have you been? Drinking vodka on the Fontanka. Drank one shot, drank two, got dizzy in the head." On the banks of this famous river in the northern capital, a miniature monument to the mysterious bird has even been erected. But where did this feathered hero with the amusing name come from?

It is believed that the prototype of Chizhik-Pyzhik emerged in the 19th century when His Imperial Highness Peter Georgievich of Oldenburg founded a law school on the street along the Fontanka River. Soon, the students of this educational institution became known for their uniform: a light green frock coat with golden cuffs and lapels. In the bright trim, those around saw a resemblance to the feathers of finches.

In the cold season, the students wore warm hats made from the fur of young northern reindeer calves. It is said that the students of this prestigious institution were characterized by arrogance, simply puffing themselves up. Thus, the uniform, hat, and sense of self-importance formed the nickname first for the future lawyers and then gave the name to the famous "bird."

In the evenings, students entertained themselves in drinking establishments and then strolled along the banks of the Fontanka. This is how the song about the drunken Chizhik-Pyzhik came to be. It became so popular that its melodies were used by the famous composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in his opera "The Golden Cockerel." The catchy lyrics were taught to young pianists in music schools, replacing some "indecent" words.

Chizhik-Pyzhik appeared in one of the episodes of the Soviet animated series "Cheerful Carousel." In 1973, the film "Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession" was released, where the character Bunsha, played by Yuri Yakovlev, gets tangled in ropes and "accidentally" performs the melody about the "feathered one" on bells.

In 1994, a small pedestal in the shape of a bronze bird appeared on the Fontanka embankment. Its height is only 11 centimeters, but this does not prevent the monument from attracting crowds of tourists. People believe that if they throw a coin towards Chizhik-Pyzhik and make a wish, it will surely come true.