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Pellet

An object ejected by birds through their mouths, consisting of the indigestible parts of their food, such as bones, fur and the chitinous parts of insects. Pellets are also called 'castings' and are said to be 'cast' by the birds concerned, which include insectivorous as well as carnivorous types. Pellets are often used in the study of diet, although they may bias the results in favour of hard food items.

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From Peter Weaver's Birdwatcher's Dictionary
Copyright © 1981 by Peter Weaver


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