Egestion of chitin in pellets of American Kestrels and Eastern Screech Owls

In studying the digestibility of chitin by American Kestrels (Falco sparver ius) and Eastern Screech Owls (Otus asio). we found portions of ingested ch itin not only occurred in excreta but also pellets. When commercial chitin was fed in turkey or chicken meat, 23.8% (American Kestrel) and 29.6% (East ern Screech Owl) of the ingested chitin was egested in pellets. In American Kestrels, 59.2% of the total amount of ingested chitin was found in excret a. The percent of chitin egested as pellets as compared to the amount inges ted showed a negative correlation (r = -0.76, P < 0.001). Our results sugge st that the lower gastrointestinal tract contributes to total chitin digest ion in American Kestrels.