dust bathing
Soil-based cleaning ritual
Dust bathing is a grooming behavior in which birds and some mammals roll or wriggle in dry dirt or sand, working the particles through their feathers or fur.
The practice helps control parasites, absorb excess oils, and maintain plumage condition.
Chickens, sparrows, and chinchillas are frequent dust bathers: The hens have worn a bare spot in the yard from dust bathing.
- wallowingIndulging without restraint
- groomingSelf-care for appearance
- scratchingRaking with nails
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
sand · loose soil · soil · sunbathing · parasites · mites · feathers · thermoregulation · stress relief · wild birds · rolling · preening · shaking · chinchillas · sparrows · cleaning · elephants · chickens
- animal behaviorsswimming, running, walking, jumping, flying
- bird behaviorsflying, soaring, perching, nesting, migrating
- elephant behaviortrumpeting, charging, rumbling, spraying, uprooting
- animal defensespoison, venom, toxin, toxins, horns
- elephantsAfrican elephant, Asian elephant, trunk, tusks, ears
- animal diggingburrowing, tunneling, excavating, den building, denning