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Owl pellet contents: small mammal bone identification guide

Photos of owl pellet contents – a guide to help identify the bones of small mammals found when dissecting and analysing Barn Owl pellets.

Wood Mouse Skull Top: Owl pellet dissection

Wood Mouse skull – top

Wood Mouse Skull Side owl pellet contents

Wood Mouse skull – side

Wood Mouse Skull Bottom

Wood Mouse skull – bottom

Wood Mouse Jaw Top

Wood Mouse jaw – top

Wood Mouse Jaw Side

Picture caption just in case

House Mouse Skull Top Owl pellet dissection

House Mouse skull – top

House Mouse Skull Side

House Mouse skull – side

House Mouse Skull Bottom

House Mouse skull – bottom

House Mouse Jaw Top

House Mouse jaw – top

House Mouse Jaw Side

House Mouse jaw – side

Field Vole Skull Top Owl pellet dissection

Field Vole skull – top

Field Vole Skull Side

Field Vole skull – side

Field Vole Skull Bottom

Field Vole skull – bottom

Field Vole Jaw Top

Field Vole jaw – top

Field Vole Jaw Side

Field Vole jaw – side

Common Shrew Skull Top Owl pellet analysis

Common Shrew skull – top

Common Shrew Skull Side

Common Shrew skull – side

Common Shrew Skull Bottom

Common Shrew skull – bottom

Common Shrew Jaw Top

Common Shrew jaw – top

Common Shrew Jaw Side

Common Shrew jaw – side

Brown Rat Skull Top - owl pellet contents

Brown Rat skull – top

Brown Rat Skull Side

Brown Rat skull – side

Brown Rat Skull Bottom

Picture caption just in case

Brown Rat Jaw Top

Brown Rat jaw – top

Brown Rat Jaw Side

Brown Rat jaw – side

Bank Vole Skull Top - owl pellet contents

Bank Vole skull – top

Bank Vole Skull Side

Bank Vole skull – side

Bank Vole Skull Bottom

Bank Vole skull – bottom

Bank Vole Jaw Top

Bank Vole jaw – top

Bank Vole Jaw Side

Bank Vole jaw – bottom

Pygmy Shrew Skull Top - owl pellet contents

Pygmy Shrew skull – top

Pygmy Shrew Skull Side

Pygmy Shrew skull – side

Pygmy Shrew Skull Bottom

Pygmy Shrew skull – bottom

Pygmy Shrew Jaw Side

Pygmy Shrew jaw – side

Photos of the skull and jaw bones of a Wood Mouse; House Mouse; Field Vole; Common Shrew; Brown Rat, Bank Vole and Pygmy Shrew – the main prey of wild Barn Owls in the UK. Sometimes owl pellet contents may include small birds, moles, bats or frogs – but these are quite rare. Owl pellet identification guide – including photos of some unusual pellets.