We often see that birds, apart from foraging and singing, constantly use their beaks to clean their feathers whenever they stop. Sometimes, we also observe some strange behaviors of birds, such as splashing around in water and rolling on the sand. What are they doing? It turns out that birds are taking "water baths" and "sand baths" to clean the dust and parasites on their feathers. Bird keepers also know that, in order to better maintain their feathers, birds often need to bask in the sun. Why do birds cherish their feathers so much? This first requires an explanation of the structure and function of bird feathers. Bird feathers cover the surface of the body and are derived from the skin, with very special materials and complex structures. Apart from similar feathers found on early reptiles, only birds have feathers among all animals. Unique things naturally deserve to be cherished. Of course, bird feathers are not just museum exhibits. They also have multiple functions. For example, the large feathers on wings and tail feathers help control flight; insulated feathers provide excellent warmth; the feathers of waterbirds and seabirds have waterproof functions; and feather colors that closely match the habitat serve as camouflage, etc. It's well-known that birds need to use their feathers to show off themselves, especially in species where males and females have different colors. The shape and color of feathers are important criteria for birds to choose mates. Because feathers are so important to birds, they particularly cherish their feathers.
In addition, since feathers are derived from the skin, they also attract many parasites. The most common ones are feather lice and feather mites, which not only eat skin debris but also feather sheaths. Therefore, birds need to constantly clean their feathers and remove these parasites in time.