Bird pellet question (1 Viewer)

[Andyoids12345]

Hello... My first post here... I have been out and about over the past few months and have noticed these tiny pellets recently in 2 different locations:-

1) in a barn on top of my workbench
2) in the attic of a disused part of the house (with access to the outside through smashed open windows).

I have asked several knowledgable birders, but all have drawn a blank (one suggested jackdaw pellets... but they are way too small <1cm .... see attached image of jackdaw & owl pellets).

Any ideas? I thought they might be wren ... but was told that they dont make pellets (?)

Andy


Just thought..... is this a robin pellet???????????????????

Does anyone know

 

[MJB]

Hello... My first post here... I have been out and about over the past few months and have noticed these tiny pellets recently in 2 different locations:-

1) in a barn on top of my workbench
2) in the attic of a disused part of the house (with access to the outside through smashed open windows).

Andy

Andy,
Looks like standard mouse crap...
MJB

 

[Andyoids12345]

Ah.... I dont think so

My wife is a bit of an expert on rodent poo..... does mammal surveys ye see? I can tell the difference between mouse and bat poo at 20 yards (~).

This is not mouse or any other rodent dropping. Look at all the beetle wing cases!!!!

I am quickly coming to the conclusion that no-one knows.... hmm? In which case I'll guess that it is a robin pellet.

ta anyways

 

[Biancone]

Any nesting swallows in the buildings? The contents in your photo seem to match a swallow diet pretty well. On the other hand, we've got a couple of pairs at home and can't say I've ever seen pellets under the nest! Don't even know if swallows throw up pellets.

 

[peterarras]

Hi Andy,
when did you found it?
Cheers
Peter.

 

[MJB]

I can tell the difference between mouse and bat poo at 20 yards (~).

Look at all the beetle wing cases!!!!

Your rebuke probably is justified...but...at 20 yards? Not before delivery, I'll warrant!

I've seen mice take and eat beetles, but they usually discard the wing-cases, I agree.
MJB

 

[James Thomas]

How about bat turds? I'd imagine they will be full of insect cases.

 

[TWM]

Interesting. I agree that they are not Bat or Mouse etc. Swallows do make pellets but they are larger than that and would not be appearing at this time of year. Your suggestion of Wren or Robin could be the answer but I have no idea if they produce pellets.

 

[Andyoids12345]

Hi... thanks for replies....

In answer to Peterarass..... I found the one on my workbench start of November... it was still "moist" and I suspect fresh (I had been using my bench the previous week) so pretty sure it isnt swallows which had all left a longtime before then. The ones i found in the attic were a little later... but were dessicated and very old when we found them, so could have been deposited any time.

As mentioned earlier, my wife and I do mammal surveys and can spot a bat poo.... which are easily confused with mouse (but once you compare side by side..... well you get the idea). Bats obviously dont do pellets (mammals ye see).

I must say that on initial sighting, I thought these were rabbit poo.... roughly same size and shape. But it was their location (attic and on bench) that made me realise that they werent and to look again; and realised they were full of insect parts and I guessed they might (must) be a bird pellet.

I have heard that robins do pellets, but wrens dont do pellets.... something to do with soft vs hard beak/mouth (???) the wrens spit hard bits out as they eat the insect. But I really just dont know, I could be totally wrong...... i have gleaned Google for several weeks and now thought I'd ask here.... someone else might know?

As I said, it is probable that most people miss these as they do look like rabbit poo, and you just dont bother to look closer.... not that many people look closely at poo at all.

Unless anybody has any further ideas..... I am leaning toward robin pellet??

Andy

FYI.... have found some images of mouse vs bat vs rat poo..... just to try and clarify.

 

[Andyoids12345]

Your rebuke probably is justified...but...at 20 yards? Not before delivery, I'll warrant!

MJB

A slight exageration I'll grant you, sometimes it seems that all I do is inspect mammal poo (esp mouse and bat), the point I was trying to make (a tad brusquely perhaps), was that I can ID bat and mouse poo.... but am pretty clueless with bird poo and pellets.
A

 

[Brisie]

Robin pellet without doubt

I actually have watched a robin 'bring up' a pellet (onto my lounge door entrance mat) - and my pellet appears identical to that in the photo - this pellet which I watched being regurgitated was 5mm x 7mm.

I also have another robin pellet which is 6mm x 8mm. These are as a result of eating earwigs (which robins love even more than worms) as well as other bugs such as centipedes.

I have not found any other references to robins 'bringing up' pellets and would be interested if anyone has any other references to forward to me.