Fish remains dominate Barn Owl pellets in northwestern Nevada

The foraging ecology of the Barn Owl (Tytoalba) has been studied extensively, both in the New World (Marti 1988, Castro and Jaksic 1995, Van Vuren and Moore 1998, and others) and the Old World (Glue 1967, Yom-Tov and Wool 1997, and others). Small rodents, insectivores, and small birds are generally the most common prey taken by Barn Owls. Additionally, reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods have been reported as prey of Barn Owls (Knight and Jackman 1984, Marti 1988, Pokines and Kerbis Peterhans 1998). Gallup (1949) observed Barn Owls foraging on California grunion (Leuresthes fornia beach, but no other authors have reported fish in the diet of Barn Owls.