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Monday, 18 July 2016

Blackbird anting

This morning, on my way to work, I noticed a Blackbird behaving strangely by a kerb. When I looked closer I realised that it was 'anting', a behaviour involving the use use of ants by birds. The Blackbird had its tail and wings spread, squatting - probably on top of an ants nest - and the ants were climbing on the birds feathers.  The blackbird was rubbing its wings, coming back to the same spot. An ant run by the back of its head and the blackbird wiped it off. You can watch a short clip of the behaviour.


Anting is thought to aid in cleaning or disinfecting the bird's plumage. The bird would be using the ants as tools, as ant's secretions, including formic acid have known bactericidal, insecticidal and fungicidal properties. The ants would behave agressively and defensively if they are picked up or rubbed by the bird or if the bird is disturbing their nest.

Blackbirds, other thrushes, starlings and corvids use anting. Some of the species sit on wood ants nests, or even apply individual ants on their plumage. Some bird species use a similar behaviour with millipedes, which also produce strong chemical secretions.

I think it is unlikely anting is a learned behaviour, as it is quite rare. I wonder if the ant's frenzied activity around nests today - it was flying ant day in Hull - stimulated the Blackbird to engage in anting behaviour.

More information
See this post at my other blog on birds and flying ant day
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7 comments:

  1. Anonymous19 July 2016 at 09:36

    Fascinating - and it was flying ant day here yesterday, too :)

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  2. Ralph Hancock19 July 2016 at 11:30

    Very interesting video. I've never seen a bird anting. Incidentally, down in London we had our flying ant day in June, presumably because the south, and particularly London, are warmer.

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    1. Africa Gomez20 July 2016 at 00:09

      HI Ralph, thank you . A new one for me too, but I did see a crow doing it a few weeks back (I was driving and on a red traffic light though!). Yes, for us this was the first flying ant day of the year.

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  3. Anonymous19 July 2016 at 16:18

    You teach me so much about birds, for which I thank you. I have not noticed this activity but it does make sense.

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    Replies
    1. Africa Gomez20 July 2016 at 00:10

      Thank you Toffeeapple, it is so thrilling to see a common bird doing something new for you, they never cease to amaze me

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  4. Anonymous24 July 2020 at 01:00

    Yes this is happening in my garden. I have seen it other years but a couple of my nesting blackbirds are nearly bald and very tatty looking and I think they must have mites. Since flying ants emerged they have both started sitting on the nests and pecking about in their feathers.

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  5. Unknown27 July 2021 at 07:42

    I have seen one of my local blackbirds do this twice now. It is amazing to watch, and they are so engrossed in it, that you can watch for a short distance. Trev

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