Birds Washing with Coke!

A video of my starlings dipping into my cup of Diet Coke and using it to coat their feathers. They are not really trying to "wash" themselves. They are performing a behavior called "anting," in which they rub an acidic substance over their feathers.

Usually this is done with an actual ant. The bird will pick up an ant and rub its formic acid all over their feathers, presumably as a fungicide or insecticide to protect their feathers. Many bird species have been observed "anting" with real ants, orange peels, or cigarette butts. My birds like Diet Coke.

Buddy and Kiddo will go crazy for a chance to ant with Coke. If I try to drink from the cup, they will sit on my hand and attempt an interception between the cup and my mouth. They recognize cups of Coke and will squawk for it from their cage. They can even take it from an aluminum can!

Enjoy ;)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• bird
• starling
• diet
• coke

[S0LNESK0]

They are killing parasites.

[Withoutmethereisnou]

Our starling rubs sauerkraut all over himself- I had sauerkraut on a hot dog one day when I walked by his cage and he started freaking out begging like crazy- so I thought he must want the sauerkraut and I gave him a bit. He started rubbing it all over his body. I never knew why until I saw your video- thanks for the education!

[Byrnzi360]

How did they discover that the coke was acidic in the first place?