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)

This question is about how owls process their prey and handle parts they can’t digest. When an owl eats, the edible tissues—like muscle and organs—provide nutrition and are digested. The indigestible parts, such as bones, fur, and feathers, aren’t broken down in the gut. Instead they’re formed into a pellet in the gizzard and regurgitated later. Because only the edible portions are used for nourishment and the rest is expelled as a pellet, the idea that owls effectively swallow edible parts matches how their digestion works. Pellets containing bones show this process in action and help scientists learn what owls have been eating.

This question is about how owls process their prey and handle parts they can’t digest. When an owl eats, the edible tissues—like muscle and organs—provide nutrition and are digested. The indigestible parts, such as bones, fur, and feathers, aren’t broken down in the gut. Instead they’re formed into a pellet in the gizzard and regurgitated later. Because only the edible portions are used for nourishment and the rest is expelled as a pellet, the idea that owls effectively swallow edible parts matches how their digestion works. Pellets containing bones show this process in action and help scientists learn what owls have been eating.