If you see a bird fluttering in the water, it is not necessarily an accidental fall into the water. It may be bathing because birds also enjoy bathing. However, their bathing style is a bit peculiar. While most water birds bathe by unfolding their feathers and flinging water onto their bodies, other birds rarely bathe in water.
We, humans, bathe almost every day in the summer. This is because our metabolism is faster during this season, and throughout the day, a lot of waste is secreted from our pores, making our skin feel sticky.
However, birds are different. Their whole bodies are almost covered by feathers, so they lack pores. Heat dissipation primarily occurs through the exposed parts not covered by feathers, such as beaks and legs. Consequently, birds do not sweat and do not experience a sticky sensation on their bodies.
Nevertheless, as creatures that frequently need to spread their wings and fly, birds face their own challenges. If they go without bathing for a long time, their flying ability weakens, and their feathers lose their beauty. During survival, a bird's feathers also undergo wear and tear. Without bathing to wash away these damaged feathers, their flying capacity diminishes.
Birds' feathers are also prone to host parasites. Bathing helps effectively remove parasites hidden between the feathers, thereby benefiting the birds' health. Another crucial aspect is that birds peck oily substances from the tail fat gland and spread them on their bodies to enhance the waterproofing of their feathers. Over time, these oily substances accumulate dust.
Therefore, birds must bathe periodically to ensure their health and flying ability.
Birds belong to a large family that evolved from small, feathered dinosaurs during the dinosaur era. Hence, dinosaurs did not become completely extinct; they simply transformed their form and continued to thrive on Earth.
From the time of dinosaurs to the present day, birds have evolved into a diverse family with over 8,600 different species, each with distinct ecological niches and survival methods. Among these, waterfowl are a more typical group that bathes in a conventional way—by fluttering in the water.
However, most birds are not inclined toward the water, making their bathing style rather peculiar.
Among common birds, sparrows and Dysons have a particular affinity for sand bathing. Let's take them as examples and briefly discuss their habits.
Sparrows are flock birds that seek out open sandy areas far from human habitation to roll around in the sand and indulge themselves.
Many people believe that birds return to their nests to seek shelter from the rain. However, in reality, most birds, except during the breeding season, do not return to their nests. Instead, they find refuge in sheltered places. Some birds, however, dislike bathing in water or sand, so they opt for rain baths.
Ant bathing is a rather peculiar bathing method where birds "bathe" in ants. Over 200 bird species are known to engage in this behavior, such as the black curlew.
This is because ants contain formic acid, a natural substance that acts as a mite, fungicide, and insecticide. When the black curlew uses ants, it effectively eliminates parasites and bacteria from its body.
The primary purpose of bird bathing is to rid their feathers of mites and other parasites. Birds employ various methods for bathing, including water baths, and baths, rain baths, sand baths, and more. While the methods may differ, the objective remains essentially the same.
