Spotted Towhee

Spotted Towhees are among the most common birds in our backyard. On two days this spring we watched some interesting towhee personal maintenance behaviors. When most birds bathe in water, the bird does some splashing and is done with it. In the first photo, on 1 May 2020, the bird perched on the edge of the bird bath. Then the towhee ran through the bath, flapping its wings, and submerging itself about half way. The bird reemerged on the opposite lip of the bath, shook itself, and then ran back through the water to the bird’s first perch. This behavior was repeated several times.

The second towhee appears to be anting on 28 May 2020. Birds often allow ants to swarm over their bodies. The bird spreads its wings and tail and raises its feathers. Ornithologists are not sure why birds ant. A number of hypotheses exist. The ants often secrete formic acid, which may kill mites and other feather parasites. Perhaps formic acid soothes skin irritated by molting feathers. Another possibility is that the birds crush the ants, forcing the arthropods to release their acid, thereby making the ants edible for the birds. Other researchers suggest that anting makes birds feel great. The acid appears to stimulate the birds and may be addictive. Note that the towhee has its mouth open, almost an ecstatic posture. One author refers to formic acid as “bird catnip” (Atlas Obscura, Feinstein 2011).