The presence of an owl is often subtle, but the waste products it leaves behind signal its activity. Owls, as nocturnal raptors, have a unique digestive process that results in two distinct forms of waste. The term “scat” generally refers to fecal droppings, which for an owl, is a liquid or paste-like substance. Understanding both the scat and the regurgitated pellets is key to identifying their presence and provides records of the owl’s diet.
The Appearance of True Owl Scat (Fecal Droppings)
True owl scat is the liquid waste product excreted through the cloaca, the single opening for both the digestive and urinary tracts in birds. This dropping is commonly seen as a thick, runny, chalky white substance, often called “whitewash.” The bright white color comes primarily from uric acid, which birds excrete as a semi-solid paste instead of liquid water. The actual fecal matter is usually a small, darker spot of green or brown within the white uric acid. Because this waste contains little solid material, it appears as a messy, high-volume splash beneath a perch.
Owl Pellets: Regurgitated Indigestible Material
The owl pellet is the material most frequently associated with owls, but it is not scat; it is a casting of indigestible prey remains that the bird regurgitates. Owls typically swallow small prey whole, and the food travels to the gizzard. Since owl digestive acids are less potent than those of other raptors, hard parts of the meal remain largely intact. The gizzard compacts non-digestible items—such as bones, teeth, fur, and feathers—into a dense, oval or cylindrical mass. This pellet is then coughed up, or cast, typically several hours after a meal at a favorite roosting spot.
The size and color of pellets vary by owl species and diet, generally correlating with the size of the bird. Pellets are typically gray, black, or brown, reflecting the color of the prey’s fur or feathers.
Identifying Owl Waste and Where to Find It
The most definitive way to identify an owl pellet is to gently dissect it, revealing the complete, often unbroken bones and skulls of small prey inside. This presence of intact skeletal material immediately distinguishes it from the scat of mammals like foxes or coyotes, whose digestive systems break down bone fragments more thoroughly. Owl pellets are usually found directly beneath a bird’s regular daytime roost, often in a sheltered location such as under a large tree or building eaves. The chalky white “whitewash” scat is also a reliable indicator of a favored perch, as owls often defecate before or after casting a pellet. Finding a concentration of both pellets and white scat signifies a long-term roost or nesting area.