Birds Bathing on an Ant Hill / Anting Birds

In this video we see how birds take an ant bath. The formic acid from the ants helps the birds control feather-mites and other parasites. The black crow, the great tit and the jays, all use a different technique. How cool is that!

Birds Bathing on an Ant Hill / Anting Birds

[TauruZ]

Nice video. I never knew that smaller types of birds did this too!

[Gabeitch]

I was lucky to see this happen today, a gang of 4 raves took turns on the ants and then just hanged around there for a little bit. Such fascinating creatures.

[WilbertRobichaud]

I have seen the same watching a Robin, wings wide open, being cleaned of lice. I had a spotting scope and I could see the ants going up and down the legs.

[Earthneedsado-over]

When the bird takes off the ants still attached get a big surprise.

[Unknown_User]

Oh that’s what Anting looks like.

I think I learned about it from an episode of Prison School.

[sammyc]

Nice, food and a bath... 2 for 1.

Ants are such amazing creatures, their behaviors are symbiotic to others that learn to take advantage

[alexistramirez]

Ants were like: Let’s give this Crow some cleaning!

[Пилигрим-юф]

Муравьиные ванны. Как приятно и полезно для птичек!

[macroandnatureworld-gdoremi]

Great shots I was aware of this 'cleaning' technique but had never seen it implemented, thanks for sharing

[kaathelmer]

Indrukwekkende beelden. Prachtige close up. Ik kreeg bijna plaatsvervangende jeuk 🤣. Ik wist helemaal niet dat mieren vogels helpen bij hun onderhoudsbeurt. Echt iets bijgeleerd 👏.

[Tacina]

When crawls are sick, that’s the way they heal themselves

[wildlifeofgreece]

Amazing! Nature at its best! Thank you very much for sharing this!

[janoosting]

Wow. Toen de film begon dacht ik dat die vogel geestelijk niet in orde was door in een mierennest te gaan zitten, maar door jou uitleg weet ik nu dat deze vogel juist heel slim is. Wonderbaarlijke mooie natuur. Gr. Jan

[LyfeAsItHappens]

well if he could just hold still for a minute and let the ants actually do their job lol

[divinegoddess]

It looks bothers and content at the same time 😅

[georgesilverhawkstrailcame]

Hi Suus, this makes me wonder if he is doing this deliberately so the aunt can free him of parasites such as mites… ??? 🤔

Fabulous capture !!!

[jamesshaw]

Humans do something similar with maggots.

[anushikaanushika]

is this an passive or active anting???

[DrawinskyMoon]

They’re moving around too much to get anything done.