PELLET-CASTING BY NON-RAPTORIAL BIRDS OF SINGAPORE

Pellet-casting is well known in raptors and owls. These carnivorous birds consume the flesh together with bones, teeth, fur, feathers, and other indigestible parts of their prey. The flesh is easily digested but the harder parts are compacted in the gizzard into a pellet. After a short period of time when the flesh is digested, the pellet is regurgitated. The shape of the pellet may reflect the inner shape of the bird’s gizzard (Below, 1979). The composition of the pellet depends entirely on the diet of the bird.