Additional Owl Pellet Data
You may use any of this data to answer your comparative question. Be sure to cite your source!
Study #1 – Barn Owls in Chile
Citation: Jaksić, Fabian M. and Yáñez, José L. “The Diet of the Barn Owl in Central Chile and Its Relation to the
Availability of Prey.” The Auk, 96.3. (1979): 619-621.
Prey Animals found in Barn Owls in Chile
Type of Prey
Chinchilla rat
Long-haired grass mouse
Olivaceous grass mouse
House mouse
Degu
Rice rat
Leaf-eared mouse
Black rat
Coruro
Mouse opossum
Bat
Birds
Total number of prey
Total number of pellets
Number
50
162
76
125
73
405
225
108
8
46
14
56
1348
1035
Prey Species Found in Pellets of Barred Owls in Western Washington (1985-1989)
Type of Prey
Shrews
Moles
Snowshoe Hares
Flying Squirrel
Chipmunks
Douglas Squirrel
Mice
Voles
Birds
Fish
Frogs
Snails
Insects
Total Prey Animals
Number
26
37
22
53
2
22
19
21
29
7
15
2
10
265
Study #2 – Barred Owls & Spotted Owls in Western Washington
Citation: Senger, Clyde M. "Spotted Owls in an Area of Sympatry." J. Raptor Res 35.3 (2001): 221-227.
Prey Animals Found in Pellets made by Spotted Owls in Western Washington (1985-1989)
Type of Prey
Shrews
Moles
Flying Squirrel
American Pika
Snowshoe Hares
Douglas Squirrel
Mice
Woodrats
Voles
Pocket Gopher
Short-tailed Weasel
Birds
Insects
Total Prey Animals
Number
11
2
150
9
9
5
62
13
22
1
2
8
3
Study # 3 – Northern Pygmy Owls and Saw-Whet Owls in Montana
Citation: Denver W. Holt and Leslie A. Leroux. “Diets of Northern Pygmy-Owls and Northern Saw-Whet Owls in WestCentral Montana.” The Wilson Bulletin, 108.1. 1996): 123-128.
Published by: Wilson Ornithological Society
Prey animals found in owl pellets of Northern Pygmy Owls collected during the non-breeding season (Oct. – Feb.) from
1982 – 1992 in west-central Montana
Type of Prey Animal
Birds
Voles
Mice
Shrews
Unknown mammals
total
Number
of Animals
76
104
8
2
4
194
Prey animals found in owl pellets of Saw-Whet Owls collected during the non-breeding season (Oct. – Feb.) from 1982 –
1992 in west-central Montana
Type of Prey Animal
Birds
Voles
Mice
Shrews
Pocket Gopher
Number
of Animals
3
233
134
16
2
total
388
Study #4: Short-Eared Owls in central New York
Citation: Clark, Richard J. “Pellets of the Short-Eared Owl and Marsh Hawk Compared.” The Journal of Wildlife
Management, 36.3(1972): 962-964
Prey animals contained in 24 pellets from Short-Eared Owls
Type of Prey Animal Number
Voles
39
Mice
1
Birds
1
Total
41
Note: With this information you are able to calculate average number of prey animals per pellet.
Study #5: Barn Owls in British Columbia (Canada)
Citation: Campbell R. Wayne, Manuwal David A., Harestad Alton S. “Food habits of the Common Barn-Owl in British
Columbia.” Canadian Journal of Zoology, 65.3 (1987): 578-586.
These owls were studied for 14 years in total between 1941 and 1981 (obviously not continuously)
Totals: 30,218 prey animals in 11,787 pellets
Again, from this information, you are able to calculate the average number of prey animals per pellet.
Study #6: Western Screech Owls in British Columbia
Citation:
Type of Prey Animal
Insects
Snail
Fish
Birds
Shrews
Bats
Red Squirrel
Pocket Gopher
Voles
Mice
Unidentified Rodent
Total
Number of Pellets
Number
47
1
4
18
7
1
1
3
37
12
8
75