WHAT ARE OWL PELLETS?

Robert Wise

As owls are carnivores, their prey can contain various body parts that are difficult to digest and hold little nutritional value, such as bones, fur, beaks and claws. Instead of passing through the intestines of the bird, these are coughed back up in the form of pellets. Owls and other birds, particularly birds of prey, produce pellets. You may have seen these when out walking – they tend to be about the size and shape of a cocktail sausage. They are normally blackish in colour, and you might notice a shiny or fluffy appearance. Pellets are a great way of finding out more about owl behaviour, and can even be used when surveying local prey populations – the remains found in the pellets tell researchers what prey are definitely in the area, and even give clues about where they nest.