Chuvash | Facts & Information

Origin

It is found from Central and Northern Europe to Siberia.

It is a sedentary species, meaning adults live year after year in the same place, except in very cold winters when they can migrate south.

It can be found primarily in coniferous forests and mountain regions with coniferous forests and mixed forests. It prefers areas with at least one water source nearby.

Chuvash Food

This bird prefers to hunt late in the day or at dusk, rather than at night in the dark.

The dwarf owl's diet consists mostly of rodents and small animals such as mice. It can also catch small birds (thrushes, finches, etc.). Sometimes they also hunt bats, lizards, fish or insects.

During the winter period can make food stocks in the hollows of trees. Because these little owls cannot fly without making noise they are diurnal.

This is an adaptation that many people don't know about, most know that all owls are nocturnal. This is an advantage for the chuvice, since most of its prey is diurnal.

Chuvash Features

Chuvice has plumage from Reddish to brownish in color with white spots on the back. The tail is usually more inciched in color from which a few short and narrow feathers emerge. To be able to carry prey, which is usually large, have large legs. The head is small and short with gray eyebrows and yellow eyes.

If other owls have small tufts of feathers near the ears, the chuvice does not. The breast is predominantly white with brown spots. The beak is pale yellow. The legs are yellow-brown in color, they end with black claws.

Females are generally larger than males. Males are 15-17cm long and females 17-19cm. The weight of males is 50-65g, and that of females 67-77g.

The sound made by the Chuvash is sharper than that of an ordinary owl. The sound that females make is similar to that of males, but more shrill. Before and after the mating season males and females emit louder sounds.

Chuvash Reproduction

Chuvice makes its nest in the deserted hollows of woodpeckers. Prefers coniferous forests. You can also meet its nest in Birches or Beeches.

Pairs form in late autumn and early spring. As a mating ritual, the male leads the female and shows her his territory. If the male uses the same nest as last year, then he is the only one to present it to the female. During the brooding period the male will feed the female.

Males are territorial and can use the same nest for 7 years in a row. The female lays 4 to 7 eggs in the nest in the first half of April. The incubation period is four weeks and begins when the third egg is laid. During this period the male will bring food into the nest for the female.

After 3 weeks young people start to take their heads out to explore, as visually as they can, the world. During this period the female enters the nest only to feed the little ones and to clean. About a month after birth, the young leave the nest.

After leaving the nest the chicks stay close for food and orientation, then leave to establish their own territory.

It lives 6-7 years in the wild and longer in captivity.