Anting facts for kids
Anting is a cool behavior where birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers. It's like they're using the ants as a special cleaning tool! Sometimes, instead of ants, birds might use millipedes. Scientists have seen over 250 different kinds of birds doing this.
Birds do this to get rid of liquids from the insects that contain chemicals like formic acid. This acid can help them get rid of tiny bugs or parasites that might be living in their feathers.
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What is Anting?
Anting is when a bird uses insects to help clean or treat its feathers. It's a bit like a bird's natural way of using medicine! The chemicals from the insects, especially ants, can be very helpful.
Birds usually pick up ants or other insects and rub them all over their feathers. This helps spread the chemicals from the insects onto the bird's body.
How Birds Ant: Active vs. Passive
Birds have two main ways of anting:
Active Anting
- This is when a bird picks up ants or other insects in its beak.
- Then, it carefully wipes or rubs the insect all over its feathers.
- They often focus on areas that are hard to reach with their beaks, like under their wings or on their back.
Passive Anting
- This is a bit different! The bird finds a group of ants on the ground.
- It then lies down right in the middle of them.
- The bird spreads its wings wide open, letting the ants crawl all over its feathers.
- The ants, feeling disturbed, might release their formic acid, which then gets on the bird's feathers.
Why Do Birds Ant?
Scientists believe birds ant for a few reasons:
- Pest Control: The chemicals from ants, like formic acid, can help get rid of parasites such as mites or lice that live on the bird's feathers or skin. It's like a natural bug spray!
- Feather Care: The chemicals might also help keep their feathers healthy and clean.
- Getting Rid of Bad Stuff: Some birds might use anting to remove sticky or bad-tasting liquids from insects before they eat them.
Images for kids
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Anting New Town
