Anthills and Birds . . . !!!

When a crow feels sick… it visits an anthill.

Sounds strange?

It’s actually one of nature’s most fascinating healing rituals.
When a crow senses it’s unwell, it will intentionally find an anthill, spread its wings wide, and remain completely still—waiting for the ants to crawl into its feathers.

Ants release formic acid—a natural antiseptic that kills bacteria, fungi, and parasites hiding in the bird’s feathers.  This behavior is called “anting”, and it’s been observed not just in crows, but in many bird species.

Birds engage in a behavior called "anting," where they deliberately place ants on their bodies, particularly their feathers. The most widely accepted theory is that birds use ants to soothe irritated skin and alleviate skin problems. Some biologists also suggest that anting is a way for birds to remove parasites from their feathers.

Here's a more detailed look at the possible reasons for anting:

Soothing irritated skin:
The most prevalent theory is that birds use ants to alleviate skin irritation.

Parasite removal:
Some scientists believe that anting can help remove parasites from feathers.

Feather maintenance:
Ants may help with feather grooming, as anting can bring saliva to the feathers for preening, which helps remove old oil and other substances.

Food preparation:
Some studies suggest that birds may prepare ants for consumption by removing irritating substances.


More From "Bird Watching"
20 common birds that "ant":

Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Great Horned Owl
Northern Flicker
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird
Veery
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Dark-eyed Junco
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
House Sparrow
American Crow
Common Raven

Source: Lovie M. Whitaker, A Résumé of Anting, with Particular Reference to a Captive Orchard Oriole. The Wilson Bulletin, September 1957, Vol. 69, No. 3, 195-262.