Splyushka is a small owl whose body length is from 16 to 21 cm. The weight of this bird does not exceed 120 grams. Despite its small size, its wingspan is 50 cm. Its color is modest, most often gray-brown. Sometimes you can find individuals of a reddish color. Most owls have dark streaks and stripes to help them blend into the bark of the trees. On their head there are two rather large bunches of ear feathers, which, when frightened or otherwise excited, rise and resemble peculiar horns. The beak and claws are dark brown in color. The bird's legs are also covered in feathers (except for the toes).
As for the habitat, the scops is an owl that prefers mixed, often sparse forests, fruit trees, isolated fields, abandoned gardens. It can also be found in vineyards. This owl does not feel fear of a person, therefore, quite often it settles with him in close proximity, for example, in city parks. Splyushka in Russia, as a rule, is a migratory bird. Most often it can be seen in the southern territories of the country, from the western borders to Lake Baikal. For the winter period, she can fly to tropical countries, for example, to Africa,to the territory located south of the Sahara desert.
Splyushka is a nocturnal owl. You won't see her during the day. After wintering, it arrives in the first days of March to the southern territories of Russia, and in mid-April it can already be found in the rest of the country. You can learn about her arrival on the very first quiet night, when she begins to give a mating voice, which is a monotonous unhurried call of a male in different keys. In 1 minute, the bird makes up to 20 signals, resembling “sleep-sleep” in sound. It is for this reason that this species got its name. In addition to the singing of males, you can hear the singing of the female, whose voice is much rougher.
According to the good-natured appearance that the scops owl has (see photo above), you will never think that this little bird, if necessary, is capable of scaring its enemy. So, when protecting her nest with masonry or chicks, with an approaching foreign object, she clings to the nest with one paw from the bottom, while spreading her wings wide, like a butterfly. At this time, her head is pressed with the back of her head to her back, and her eyes become motionless. She keeps the other paw ready to attack under her wing.
In terms of nutrition, the scops owl is unpretentious. Its prey are small animals such as lizards or frogs. In addition, large night butterflies or beetles become its food. She spends her hunt in thick twilight. For chicks, the female also does not conduct any special selection in food. During the incubation periodthe female is fed by the male, having previously notified about the hunt with his whistle. Having caught the prey, he passes it from beak to beak, as if kissing the female. Among other foods, splyushka can eat grated carrots, cottage cheese, buckwheat porridge.
By its nature, the splyushka is a hollow nesting owl. It can occupy both natural niches and settle in the hollows of woodpeckers. In the absence of a suitable place for housing, it can also be accommodated in a magpie's nest. Splyuska lays her eggs about 30 days after arrival. In most cases, the clutch consists of 4-5 white eggs, 6 eggs are very rare. The incubation period is just over 20 days. After the birth of the chicks, the male obtains food for feeding them. Small scops begin to fly out of the nest 20 days after their birth. Throughout this period, the family is friendly and inseparable, breaking up only in August before the flight.
