Barred Owl Eating Leaves? (1 Viewer)

[Fandango739]

I saw this Barred Owl today casually ripping fresh leaves off a sprig and for the world it looked like the owl was actually eating them! Has anyone else seen this behavior in owls? Is it common? Or maybe self-medicating? I've never heard of this before! There may have been insects on the leaves that I could see, but it wasn't like the bird was chasing anything. It was clearly taking its time.

 

[Tired]

That's really odd. What type of tree?

 

[Jay C]

Some way of cleaning the beak perhaps? Just a guess.

 

[Fandango739]

The tree was an American (or White) Elm.
Thanks for the comments!

 

[KC Foggin]

Or could it be that their body needs some vegetation at times and the Owl was abiding by that

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

Or some kind of self medication ?

 

[JWN Andrewes]

Dogs & cats will sometimes eat grass to aid digestion, perhaps it's something like that?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

chimpanzees eat certain leaves to reduce the load of intestinal parasites, similar is known from goats and sheep , some birds and mammals eat loam or charcoal to protect themselves against toxins from their food ...

 

[Torchepot]

I think the underbark layer of white elm has some traditional medicinal uses but can’t find any for the leaves. They are rather hairy though so may be of use in cases of worm infestation?