What does a pellet or casting found under a bird's perch typically represent?

The presence of a pellet or casting under a bird's perch typically indicates the raptor's last meal's indigestible portion. Raptors, including falcons and hawks, consume their prey entirely, but cannot digest bones, fur, feathers, and certain other materials. Consequently, these indigestible parts are compacted into a pellet and later expelled. Observing a pellet can provide important information about the bird's diet and health.

A fresh food source would not be represented in the form of a pellet, since it would imply that the food has not yet been consumed and processed. Signs of illness might be indicated by other symptoms or behaviors, rather than by the presence of a normal casting. While it might be considered a normal activity for a bird of prey to cast pellets, the specific identification of what this action represents is primarily linked to the digestion process and the expulsion of indigestible portions from the last meal.