Brown Thrasher ' anting ' Aug 2, 2016 N of Valeport and E of Silton, SK Canada

Brown Thrasher " anting " Aug 2, 2016 N of Valeport and E of Silton, SK Canada. 8:52 a.m. 22 degrees celcius

Anting is a self-anointing behavior during which birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. The bird may pick up the insects in their bill and rub them on the body, or the bird may lie in an area of high density of the insects and perform dust bathing-like movements. The insects secrete liquids containing chemicals such as formic acid, which can act as an insecticide, miticide, fungicide, or bactericide. Alternatively, anting could make the insects edible by removing the distasteful acid, or, possibly supplement the bird's own preen oil. Instead of ants, birds can also use millipedes. Over 250 species of bird have been known to ant.

It has been suggested that anting is way of reducing feather-parasites such as mites, or controlling fungi or bacteria, although there has been little convincing support for any of those theories. It is possible that the use of certain kinds of ants indicates the importance of the chemicals they release. Some cases of anting involved the use of millipedes or puss moth (Cerura vinula) caterpillars, and these, too, are known to release powerful defensive chemicals.
Another suggestion, based on observation of blue jays, is that the bird makes the insects edible by discharging the harmful acid onto its feathers. Birds were found to show anting behaviour only if the ants had a full acid sac, and with subjects whose acid sacs had been experimentally removed, the behaviour was absent.

It has also been suggested that anting is related to moulting. Correlation with moulting, however, may be attributable to the greater activity of ants in summer.
(info from wiki)

"...passive anting (also called "ant exposure behavior") the bird simply postures near ants and allows them to move into its plumage (Potter 1970; Simmons 1966; Weldon 2004; Whitaker 1957) "

the above information from Google Books:
Animal Tool Behavior: The Use and Manufacture of Tools by Animals
By Robert W. Shumaker, Kristina R. Walkup, Benjamin B. Beck
from on pg 50 (which has even more info)

[JacobKarasch]

I just saw a brown thrasher doing this today on my deck. I don't think there were any ants around. So strange!

[mamaboocee]

Great footage! I came to see what the feathers were like because i am finding reddish molt feathers - but i cannot tell if they are a cardinal's or a brown thrasher's feathers. They both glow reddish orange, its hard to tell. At any rate, the feathers are beautiful! I like to photograph them and then place them back in the yard, mammals will use them for nest insulation. Besides, it is against the law to keep wild bird feathers. Back in the 1920's birds went extinct due the demand for their feathers in fashion. What a terrible thing. I love birds, especially blue jays and the thrashers!

[MoinKhan-ufpg]

He lays done on Ant colonies, so that ant will spread Formic acid in his unreachable part of the body. Hence, Formic acid is good insecticide it help bird to clean all parasites from his body.

[manoterraX]

London based production company WallToWall is interested in this video for a nature and wildlife series. What is the best way to get in touch with you asap?