Ask A Scientist Zoology Archive

name         Patricia S.
status       educator
age          50s

Question -   I have a backyard full of birds all year round.  This
summer I have noticed a thrasher systematically kicking and poking all the
pea gravel from between the slate pavers that form my walkway and then
wedging him/herself into the space between the pavers.  Once the bird has
positioned himself, he tilts his head back and closes his eyes and opens
his beak. He remains motionless in this position for up to a minute. Then
he hops out and stands on the mulch under a bush and looks around. When
one bird is finished, a second and sometimes a third takes his place in
the trench. The little trench he has created for himself is dusty (we
haven't had much rain at all this summer), but I would have thought he
would spread out his wings if he were trying to "bathe" in the dust.  What
are these birds doing?
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Dust bathing is common in birds, but not as common as water bathing. Dust
bathing in birds like thrashers may be a substitute for water bathing when
water is not readily available. Often birds dust bathe in more open
situations, where they flick dust with their feet and sometimes shuffle
wings; perhaps this trench is the best dust source around and is too narrow
for you to observe such behavior. Birds often shake and preen immediately
after dust bathing. The purpose is not well known, but probably helps
condition feathers and may discourage lice and other small skin parasites.
See Terres, The Audubon Encyclopedia of North American Birds, for detailed
articles.

J. Elliott
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