Birds sunbathing

[rutineli]

Of course I have probably been wandering around for 55 years with my eyes closed all summer but I cannot recall having noticed song birds from robins to blackbirds lounging on the grass with their wings spread out to sun bathe. As I write there are literally rows of them in a semi-stoned state and even a few german sparrows leaving their towels around for later. Has this always happened without me noticing it??? Maybe one of my neighbours is growing Skunk and they have been eating the seeds???

[BillySugger]

It's the Bob Marley on the ipods that gives it away isn't it

[Jugglering]

I thought they were hoping that the local ants would climb on board and lunch on the parasites on their feathers.... or maybe it's so that these same parasites are exposed to the heat of the sun so the bird can pick them off.

[Cetti]

Hi rutineli!

The strangest thing is that they seem to do it during the highest temperatures.
Last year I saw a Song Thrush in the middle of a field, wings as you've described and beak open, just laying like a statue. He was still there a half an hour later....in the boiling sun!

Dust bathing is fairly common for removing mites and other nasties. 'Anting' is fascinating to watch as the birds wriggle in what appears to be ecstasy as the formic acid supposedly kills the bugs ...but what 'sunning' does has yet to be proved. Killing mites again, perhaps, although I prefer your ' stoned' theory!

[wildwood]

This behaviour is common after the weather has been bad. The oil in their feathers changes to vitamin D which can only be stored in small quantities in the liver. They take enough of this vitamin up when preening and replacing the oil.

[rutineli]

Wildwood your answer was definitive as ever but the rest of you have convinced me to stop chucking out breadcrusts and leave a few packets of Rizla around the lawn instead.. Maybe a bong near the bird bath???.... thank you all. - rutineli

[Cetti]

Just found this RSPB article on 'sunning' and it's all of the reasons stated - plus it may be that they just enjoy it!

http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/expert/previous/ sunning.asp

[rutineli]

A Star Cetti, as ever!! Cheers. - rutineli