Does size matter? Unravelling taphonomic alterations on bird bones produced by the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo)

Predators hunt and consume their prey in a different manner. Consequently, variability on the traces they left on bones might be noticed in accordance with the way in which animals are hunted, processed and ingested. In the present work, we propose prey size as a critical factor when analyzing predator accumulations from a taphonomic perspective, using the particular case of bird bone taphonomy. To test this hypothesis, a modern Eagle owl (Bubo bubo) accumulation of pellets was described, with specific interest on prey size. As a result, we have observed that bones present grater damage when increasing the size of prey. This is especially evident when analyzing fragmentation and mechanical modification on bones. To evaluate the implementation of this work, the results are compared with another accumulation form the Spanish Pyrenees (Cau del Duc) that apparently present similar characteristics.