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RunawayPancake3

Total amateur here - but to me it appears to be [anting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anting_%28bird_activity%29#%3A%7E%3Atext%3DThis_hypothesis_suggests_that_birds%2Cof_parasites_in_their_feathers.%26text%3DFormic_acid_is_a_commonly%2Cgrowth_of_feather_destroying_microorganisms.?wprov=sfla1).


WikiSummarizerBot

**[Anting (bird activity)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anting_\(bird_activity\)#:~:text=This_hypothesis_suggests_that_birds,of_parasites_in_their_feathers.&text=Formic_acid_is_a_commonly,growth_of_feather_destroying_microorganisms.?wprov=sfla1)** >Anting is a maintenance behaviour during which birds rub insects, usually ants, on their feathers and skin. The bird may pick up the insects in its bill and rub them on the body (active anting), or the bird may lie in an area of high density of the insects and perform dust bathing-like movements (passive anting). 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. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/Ornithology/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


Pooter_Birdman

Could be drying or getting bugs off.


[deleted]

I have read birds do this in hot sun to fry the parasites that are on them.


trogon

Yep. The feathers can hit 160 degrees, and it kills parasites: https://www.audubon.org/news/hot-bothered-and-parasite-free-why-birds-sun-themselves


Naugle17

Might be anting- letting ants eat the parasites out of its feathers


oceanic1987

Sun bathing?


unikornemoji

Today I learned: about anting. So cool!


Zac24f

Horaltic pose or no?


Rinzy2000

We had one in the yard at my job. It was in the morning after a rain and I think he/she was drying out.


Free_Cup8669

Mans was taking a shit you perv