Who’s that bird bathing in the birdbath above? Hard to tell with all the water flying around. Feathers every which way, droplets too…
He slows down for a moment and we see a very wet juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak!
Note how every feather all over his body is wet through and fluffed up. He’s liking this shallow bowl of water in August. The Pacific Northwest is very dry at this time of year and birdbaths are popular, not just for drinking. I keep several birdbaths going in summer, for different size birds. This shallowest one is right outside my kitchen window, so I get good looks all summer at the smaller birds. Bigger birds like Robins and Towhees bathe in the bigger, deeper, ones.
Bathing is not just for fun, and not just a warm weather summer activity. Birds HAVE to clean themselves regularly, to remove dirt, excess oil and exfoliated skin from their plumage, keeping it in tip top condition — essential for flight and insulation. Vigorous bathing also helps dislodge ectoparasites which otherwise chew up their feathers. “Bathing” can really be thought of in a more generalized way since some birds, like turkeys, prefer bathing in dust, for the same purpose. Some birds bathe in both. Different species of birds have preferences; the Handbook of Bird Biology describes examples such as swifts and swallows skimming water’s surface, terns and kingfishers diving straight in, hummingbirds flitting through spray, nighthawks bathing on the wing in rainstorms, and songbirds crouching in puddles (books.google.com/...).
Black Oystercatchers bathe near the shore. She dips her head underwater, fluffs out her feathers, beats her wings vigorously against the water and when fully cleaned, steps out onto the beach to shake off, realign her feathers and commence a lengthy preening.
These Canada geese are into the preening stage, though they’re still standing in the water. Wing flapping in place is an important part of the process, letting the wind “comb out” their overlapping plumage.
Marine birds have plenty of water for bathing, but I find more often than not if they have fresh water available, they prefer to bathe in that, however shallow it may be. I haven’t read anything to explain why they seek out fresh streams, although it might be the attraction of drinking water as they bathe. While most marine birds (like gulls, terns, petrels, albatrosses and sea ducks) can drink saltwater, the process of concentrating excess salt for excretion puts a metabolic stress on them, which can be minimized by drinking fresh water whenever possible (Manual of Ornithology, p. 227, books.google.com/...).
These Glaucous-winged gulls chose a little freshwater pool on the beach for their bath. Runoff streams from the forest pour down to the sea on most Washington beaches, and even the smallest streams will pool by big rocks like this one.
In a recently plowed field behind my local bay, where runoff rainwater has puddled, I see ducks and gulls bathing regularly, its shallow depth being just right, standing or paddling. Now the winter rains are slowing, the field will dry up. But for now it’s very popular.
The local Mew gulls spend a lot of time in the field and the puddle. This short video gives a sense of their technique.
Big birds bathe too! One day a few years ago I saw an immature Bald Eagle bathing in a puddle just across the road verge, finishing its ablutions. I stopped my car in the middle of the road to watch — not much traffic here luckily! This is another temporary winter puddle. The birds know them all.
It takes lots of water to saturate an eagle’s feathers. Water drips out of those huge wings. Splish splash, shake shake!
Some marine birds prefer to live far from shore, so they bathe while floating in deep salt water.
Like these alcids:
Some gulls prefer offshore waters and kelp beds, like Heermann’s gulls, so they bathe while floating too.
While birds must bathe regularly, they have preferences in timing and setting. One British study observed thousands of birds over seven years (britishbirds.co.uk/...) and found general patterns of behavior. Birds prefer sunny warm weather, but not too hot. If weather is cold or windy they bathe less, but then extensively and with great enthusiasm when the weather improves. They like some breeze, which helps to dry plumage. Birds prefer clean water, not surprisingly (so please keep your birdbath tidy!). Birds often bathe socially. What else did they find? — Most birds bathe less during rainstorms, probably because of cooler temperatures. But the drive to bathe is strong: in subfreezing weather, some birds will break through ice to bathe while others bathe in snow! Birds bathe somewhat more frequently in summer than winter but not by much, and that varies among species.
Birds around my area do seem to prefer nice weather for bathing from what I see. Offshore birds bathe more often when the sea is flat rather than in choppy water. However I’m not everywhere, and I have no doubt there’s a lot more bathing going on (and other activities) than I’m around to see.
Hooded Mergansers have been hanging out at my local beach frequently lately, and I’ve been seeing them bathe both in the fresh water field puddle and in the salty bay water across the road.
Here’s a short video I took of a juvenile Hoodie in the bay, while buffleheads dived for food around him. It’s about 3 feet deep here.
Birds spend a great deal of their waking time keeping their plumage in optimal condition, and bathing is part of that. If we set up a birdbath that’s one way we can help birds, especially in the dry season or in localities that have eliminated wetlands in favor of development. Cornell has some good tips of managing birdbaths (www.allaboutbirds.org/...). As well as helping your local birds, it’s a great way to watch them close up, doing birdy things.
Or find yourself a pond or river or beach, and you’ll be certain to see them at it, splish splashing away!
Have you seen birds bathing where you live? These pictured are only a few — I’d love to hear about other kinds of birds and how they bathe.
Do you have a birdbath? If so, what style have you found most successful? Any tips for the group?
And of course, the Dawn Chorus is now open for your reports of birdy activity you’ve seen over the past week. Please share your observations in the comments.
—> Bonus video: Hoodies bathing and then preening
For folks who just can’t get enough of Hoodies!
(Field puddle, March 5, 2018)