Nature Trail

Strange animal behaviour:

Bathing with ants, smoke and fire!

A mystifying behavioural phenomenon (occurrence) which has been observed mostly among birds that continues to baffle (puzzle) scientists is ‘anting.’

It is a ritual ‘bathing’ using ants, smoke and fire, undertaken mostly by birds. But recently, other animals too have been observed doing it. As to why they do it is a hotly debated topic.

During anting, birds will either allow the ants to crawl all over their bodies or take ants and rub them against their skin.

It has been observed by researchers that more than 250 species of birds, a majority of which are passerines (perching birds) take to anting. The other birds practising anting on record are various gallinaceous species such as pheasants and turkeys. Even parrots, woodpeckers and the great horned owl do it.

Birds are reported to derive visible pleasure from this strange process of anting which can be divided into two major categories - direct anting and indirect anting. Direct anting is the commonest form practised. It is most frequently observed among babblers, starlings, tanagers and weaver birds.

So, what is direct anting? It is when a bird picks up a live ant with its beak and wipes it under the flight feathers on each of its extended wings. Usually it starts ‘anting’ its left wing first and devotes more time on it than to the right wing.

Why it concentrates so much on the left wing is yet to be discovered. What’s more interesting is that a different ant is used for each wing; the old one is either eaten or discarded before picking a new ant.

During anting, the birds have been observed to quiver and shake. Researchers believe they derive great pleasure when the ants secrete (discharge) formic acid against their skin. It has been noted that while some birds are almost addicted to anting, others in the same species hardly ever perform this ritual. This too is something that has no explanation.

We know what happens during direct anting, so let’s find out how indirect anting, which is also known as ant bathing, is done.

During indirect anting recorded mostly among crows (especially jays), thrushes and wax bills, the bird usually sits near a colony of ants extending its wings into a throng of these insects so that they could crawl up its wings, body and head. In this instance too the bird visibly trembles and shivers, as if in pleasure.

What are the types of ants birds use for this purpose? Are there any special species, you may wonder. Well, so far, researchers have documented at least 25 different types of ants used by the birds. Occasionally other insects have also been used.

As we explained earlier, scientists and nature researchers are unable to explain why birds and even other animals resort to anting. Many theories have been put forward, but none has been universally accepted so far.

According to one theory, the birds practise anting to get rid of the ectoparasites from their skin with the help of the insecticidal properties of the formic acid released by the ants.

Some say it is done to find solace from the pain induced by the growth and replacement of feathers. Yet others say it is done to tone its feathers, but then some ask as to why so much attention is paid to the left wing when anting? Another theory put forward is that anting is done purely for its sensation.

Some even claim it is done to remove the unpleasant liquids from the ant’s body before making a meal of it. Now, what do you think could be accepted out of all these various theories put forward by the experts? Don’t you think that whatever the reason may be, it certainly is strange behaviour?

Remember we said birds also bathe in smoke and fire? Sounds even more bizarre, doesn’t it? Let’s check this out as well...

Smoke-bathing, the researchers say is very much similar in effect and appearance to anting - the only difference being that the birds use smoke instead of ants.

Now how do they smoke-bathe? Most commonly, you could see one or more crows or starlings perched at the top of a chimney that is belching (emiting or releasing) out smoke.

The birds usually stay perched on top of the chimney with their wings extended over the smoke, quivering in the same manner as when bathing with ants or ‘anting’. They are sometimes seen even trying to pluck a plume of smoke out of the cloud of smoke coming out of the chimney, to place under each wing.

Researchers say that even during smoke bathing, birds are known to pay more attention to their left wing than the right one.

More dramatic than either of the above mentioned methods of bathing is fire-bathing. You would be amazed to learn that during fire-bathing, a bird actually extends its wings over burning straw or some other form of fire. The birds deftly (skilfully) avoid getting burnt. Why the birds perform this ritual, especially with fire is yet unclear.

As it has been recently observed, it’s not only birds that practise anting. Other species too resort to this. Self anointing which is performed by hedgehogs is believed to be the mammalian equivalent to anting.

Where hedgehogs and self-anointing are concerned, they don’t use ants. When the hedgehog encounters an object with a strong odour, it continually licks it until it has built up a sizable amount of saliva in its mouth.

Then, it throws its head on to a side, twists its body and uses its tongue to place the saliva froth onto its back or its flank. This procedure is repeated several times until it has coated much of its spiny body in saliva. Like with anting, this process could last 20 minutes or more.

The hedgehog too has been observed to be in a state of ecstasy like the birds, when self-anointing.

Like with anting, the explanations put forward are similar, but in the case of hedgehogs, some experts say this self-anointing may be done to fool potential predators by disguising its natural body odour. The reason this theory has been put forward is because, hedgehogs have been observed resorting to self-anointing only during the breeding season.

Apart from hedgehogs, lemurs too have been observed indulging in ‘anting - sometimes using millipedes. The millipede is first bitten and then rubbed on its fur perhaps, with the aim of using the secretions from the wounded millipede as protection against parasites. More recently, reptiles, especially turtles too have been seen anting.