{"id":26904,"date":"2023-04-03T17:19:33","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T15:19:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.discoverwildlife.com\/?p=44286"},"modified":"2023-04-03T17:35:50","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T15:35:50","slug":"bird-pellets-how-to-identify","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/bird-pellets-how-to-identify\/","title":{"rendered":"Bird pellets: how to identify"},"content":{"rendered":"

Identify different bird pellets to learn which birds are in the area. <\/p>

By Megan Shersby\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 03 April 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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What are pellets?<\/h2>\n

Pellets are often confused with mammal droppings, or scats, but are in fact regurgitated undigested food left by birds. They are usually found where birds have been feeding, roosting or nesting, and though wet and soft when fresh, soon dry out and harden.<\/p>\n

All birds produce pellets, depending on what they have been eating, though some are more obvious than others. The ones found most frequently are those from raptors, which feed on mammals and birds \u2013 the fur, bones and feathers remain undigested.<\/p>\n

In other bird species, fish bones and scales, seeds, plant matter, shells and insect remains may all be packaged up into a single pellet. Some large seabirds, such as gulls<\/a> and skuas, swallow petrels, auks and rodents whole \u2013 subsequent pellets contain almost intact bones and wings.<\/p>\n