True or False: Owls only swallow edible parts of their prey.

True or False: Owls only swallow edible parts of their prey.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not stated
• D. They regurgitate bones

Answer: (A)

Owls take in prey as a whole and then separate what they can digest from what they can’t. Their stomach system digests soft tissues like muscle and organs, while tougher parts—bones, fur, and feathers—aren’t broken down. Those indigestible parts are compacted into a pellet and regurgitated. Because of this, owls are not swallowing only edible parts; they swallow the entire prey and then expel the non-edible pieces as pellets. This is why you often find bone fragments and other remains in owl pellets.