An earlier post on the Chestnut-bellied Malkohas (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus) sunning provided the opportunity for us to examine closely the conditions of the wing feathers. We were surprised to see that more than a few feathers were in a bad condition. They were clearly worm out as compared to the other near-perfect feathers (see images below).

Feathers are dead structures. They become brittle with time and get physically damaged when in contact with the surroundings. They are also attacked by various ectoparasites like lice and mites. These parasites feed on the feathers as well as the skin.

Preening, besides keeping the feathers in top condition, helps to physically remove ectoparasites. Another method of parasite removal is anting. This can be active or passive. In the former the bird picks up the ants and place then on its feathers. Passive anting involves the bird lying on an ants’ nest to allow the ants to swarm over its body.

Water bathing, dust bathing and sunning are also methods of keeping the feathers in tip top conditions and to get rid of ectoparasites. Some birds have been reported to place fresh leaves in the nest, leaves that contain specific chemicals that can deter these parasites.

Feather maintenance helps to prolong the life of the feathers. They cannot put off damage indefinitely. So birds moult regularly, whereby damaged, broken or worn out feathers are replaced during the moulting cycle.

All images by KC Tsang.

In May 2008, Steven a.k.a. sharkspin photographed an Oriental Magpie Robin (Copsychus saularis) having a bath in a stream at Panti Forest Reserve, Johor, Malaysia (above). This reserve has been the Mecca of birders and photographers from Malaysia and neighbouring Singapore. The area is home to over 250 bird species, including several Sunda endemics and globally threatened species.

The Oriental Magpie Robin in this case was seen standing in the shallow water of the stream and vigorously ruffling its feathers (above). It also shook its wings and dipped its breast area into the water (below). Such actions allow droplets of water to get between the feathers and in the process, wash away dirt that collect on them.

After bathing, birds need to dry themselves immediately. Why? A wet bird may not be able to fly efficiently and thus can be quite helpless when confronted by a predator. Drying involves vigorously shaking itself to throw off the water droplets. The wings will also be shaken and flapped and the feathers fluffed.

After excess water droplets are got rid of, birds usually indulge in preening their feathers to keep them in perfect condition.

Bathing in streams and puddles is one of the ways birds maintain their feathers. Birds also bathe in the rain, on dew or water droplets collected on leaves after rain or from a hose during watering of the garden on a hot day. They also dust bathe.

Sunning is another method of feather maintenance, besides anting, although this latter method has not been properly observed locally.

All images by Steven a.k.a. sharkspin.

This post is a cooperative effort between www.naturepixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

“Chestnut-bellied Malkohas (Phaenicophaeus sumatranus) are considered uncommon, nationally near threatened, and globally near-threatened species, so it is with great luck that I was able to come across two birds in the same morning. I believe one of them was a female, however based on my fleeting observations of the two I am not able to tell.

“The morning was blessed with bright sunlight, and the two birds were obviously enjoying having a sunbath. And with their dark coloured feathers, they would be able to gather heat from the sun with greater efficiency. It also was suggested that they may be anting, however on examining my pictures, could not see any evidence of it.”

Sunning is another method of feather maintenance, besides water and dust bathing, preening and anting. In sunning, birds adopt varied postures. Both or one wing may be extended and the tail feathers spread out. The bird usually lies on the hot ground with its head lowered and tipped to one side. It may remain motionless for some time, but not in the case of these malkohas.

There are two earlier posts: One shows a malkoha sunning on the ground but the observer was not able to get near for a close-up shot, unlike the present encounter. The other shows malkohas sunning themselves on the branches of a tree.

We are more familiar with sunning by cormorants and anhingas, not so with other birds…

Date of observation: 13th May 2008

Lately, a pair of Spotted Doves (Streptopelia chinensis) have adopted my garden, visiting a few times a day to forage and to sunbathe. Initially, I managed to see only one large bird lazing on the driveway, raising its wings to soak in the sun (left). I only noticed it when I walked out of the house and th bird noisely flew off into the garden. Besides the characteristic loud flapping, also made by other pigeons like Pink-necked Green Pigeon (Treron vernans), my attention was also directed to its large pair of wings and tail feathers as it flew off.

I used to surprise the bird a few times when it was foraging on the ground of my garden. Subsequently I became more careful. The bird meticulously searched the ground, foraging for up to half an hour at a time, pecking the ground whenever it found seeds, ants and what not before moving off.

During hot periods when the driveway is heated up, it will lie on the tiles, spreading its wings upwards to the sun. It would appear that this form of sunbathing is characteristic also of the Peaceful Dove (Geopelia striata), previously known as Zebra Dove.

One day, I found a pair perching on the top of my gate. This was the first time I have seen the two birds together (below).

Not all birds take shelter once it rains. Not this Yellow-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier) anyway. It perched on a branch shaded very lightly by the leaves of the curry bush (Myrraya koenigii). The droplets of rain fell on its plumage. The bird shook them off and fluffed its feathers.

It was obviously having a bath.

This went on for about four minutes and the bird moved from point to point. And all the time it was enjoying the rain.

Then the rain stopped and the bulbul moved to an exposed branch, stretched out fully and sang a few of its short-syllable song. It then flew off.

Bathing is one way of keeping the feathers in top form. Preening, anting, dust and sun bathing are other methods.