43 Inside an owl pellet Here, two tawny owl pellets have been taken apart. The first pellet shows that the owl had dined entirely on voles – three of these small mammals made up the bird’s nightly catch. The second pellet (below) reveals starling bones, showing that birds also feature in the tawny owl’s diet. Whole pellet When the pellet is dry, the fur and bones are matted together. Fur mixed with mucus binds the pellet together Cheek-teeth from a vole Ball joint on leg bone fits into this socket Cheek-teeth Three vole skulls, two still intact Hip bones with sockets Bones from front limbs Shoulder blades Leg bones Complete jaw Incisors Jaws often break apart in the owl’s stomach Curved ribs A vole’s vertebrae – bones that make up the backbone Feeding on other birds This tawny owl has managed to regurgitate the starling’s skull almost intact. Feathers, like fur and claws, cannot be digested and are disposed of along with the bones. Starling skull Lower half of beak Swallowed body feathers Flight feathers Leg and wing bones Claw Foot Ribs Leg with claw still attached Wishbone Vertebrae