song thrush behaving strangely (1 Viewer)

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Apr 8, 2017

• #1

earlier today i was walking along the Crumlin canal between Newport and Risca when i saw this song thrush on the other side of the canal

at first it was just standing there in a normal pose, but then it moved to a sandy patch on the opposite bank, spread out its wings and remained in that position for the rest of the time while i observed it

i must say that by assuming this posture the bird blended in well with the canal bank, but i wonder whether camouflage could be the sole reason for its behaviour

could it be to sun itself, or to dust its feathers, or some other reason that hasn't occurred to me ? whatever the case, is this a known behaviour for a song thrush, and if so, what does it mean ?

 

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dantheman

Bah humbug

• Apr 8, 2017

• #2

Anting -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anting_(bird_activity)


Not something you commonly see (don't even remember if I've seen it myself tbh). Nice one.

 

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Apr 8, 2017

• #3

i have heard about anting, but somehow i didn't connect the bird's behaviour at the time with the concept of anting

pleased to have witnessed it though

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Apr 9, 2017

• #4

Sunning :t:

Nothing to suggest there's any ants there

 

F

fugl

Well-known member

• Apr 9, 2017

• #5

Agree, probably just sun bathing not anting. The two activities can be hard to distinguish sometimes, the birds going into the same coma-like state in both cases.

 

dantheman

Bah humbug

• Apr 9, 2017

• #6

Ah well. Thought it was an old ants nest, but yes, presumably would see ants in the photo?

The 2 activities must be pretty closely related to each other.

 

delia todd

If I said the wrong thing it was a Senior Moment

Staff member

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Apr 9, 2017

• #7

I sometimes wonder if they're exposing the uropygial gland to the sun/air (you can't quite see it in this picture due to the angle, I think).

There's an item about this gland in The Opus Dictionary, here, with a link to a super picture in the Gallery showing it. And also one on Anting here.

 

marnixR

WYSIWYG

• Apr 9, 2017

• #8

dantheman said:

Ah well. Thought it was an old ants nest, but yes, presumably would see ants in the photo?

The 2 activities must be pretty closely related to each other.

Click to expand...

I must admit that I didn't see any ants in the sandy patch where the thrush spread its wings - but then again, I can't be sure there weren't any either