This feather is serrated instead of smooth like on most birds. This serration breaks up the air flowing over the wing and thus eliminates the noise created by airflow over a smooth surface. For the most part owls eat their prey whole. Any indigestible parts are compressed into pellets and regurgitated. Because the prey was eaten whole, pellets can contain entire skeletons.
Pellets are clean and safe to handle.
Dissect one and discover what the owl has eaten. Often the skull and teeth can be keyed out to determine the species of prey. Pellets also contain feathers and fur of the former critter. Contents of an owl pellet. This pellet contained 3 vole skulls and other various parts.