Dirt bath? (1 Viewer)

[jmillerii43]

Last summer we installed a pond and waterfall in our backyard and ever since it has been a birds paradise! At any given time during the day, we have a half dozen sparrows taking a bath in the waterfall and a dozen more waiting in line!

My wife also has a garden that is not too far from the waterfall. This spring we have noticed that the sparrows will take a bath, and then go to her garden and flutter their wings in the dirt so they dig a small hole. It looks like they are taking a dirt bath! This past weekend, we had about 12 sparrows doing this at once!

Does anyone know the actual purpose of this behavior? They have never done this before.

 

[Katy Penland]

Hi, jmillerii43! A warm welcome to you from all of us on staff here at BirdForum!

I could be wrong, but I've always thought that various species use dirt/dust baths to rid themselves of mites and other parasites. I've seen the same thing with finches and sparrows -- wallowing in small craters of soft, silty dirt. I think, too, that this is the purpose of "sunning" where birds will fan their tails/wings in the sunlight, sometimes even tipping sideways and extending each wing skywards for a few seconds/minutes. But I'm sure someone will be along shortly who will know for sure. :t:

 

[teddybear]

Although I have a 'bird bath' in the back garden, the sparrows seem to enjoy 'bathing' in the sand my husband recently spilt on our path. I find it really amusing and love watching them.

 

[Original PaulE]

Last night i watched a female kestral giving herself a dirt bath in a local farm yard must have been a good 5 minutes seemed oblivious to everything around it

 

[colonelboris]

Certainly right about the mites and parasites, but in some birds, they use it to 'exfoliate' their feathers so they are brighter for the mating season.

 

[Kits]

We have female pheasants who have hollowed out the earth beneath some conifers and they have dirt baths there regularly. Never seen the male pheasant do it though.