Crows are treated by ants: an amazing fact about anting in nature

      This natural "SPA procedure" helps birds get rid of pests faster than any veterinarian. Observing a common crow, it's hard to imagine that this cautious bird willingly allows ants to crawl on it. However, behind this strange behavior lies a brilliant evolutionary mechanism that scientists call anting (from the English word ant).

      Why does a sick crow go to the ants? The instinct for self-preservation suggests an unconventional solution. When feathers start to itch from feather mites, fluff-eaters, or fungi, the crow leaves its usual roosting place and goes in search of an anthill. Finding a suitable ant nest, the bird takes a characteristic pose: it spreads its wings, lowers its tail, and freezes. From the outside, it looks like complete helplessness. But behind this stupor lies a precise calculation. Ants perceive the motionless warm body as a surface to be inspected. They begin to actively move across the feathers, releasing formic acid.

      Chemical protection without medicine. Formic acid acts as a powerful natural antiseptic. Throughout evolution, crows have learned simple chemistry: the acid suppresses the growth of pathogenic fungi that cause itching and feather loss. It destroys the chitinous coverings of ectoparasites (mites and lice). The substance deodorizes the plumage, removing odors that could attract predators. Essentially, the crow undergoes a full disinfection without a single medicine or human intervention.

      Active and passive anting. Ornithologists divide anting into two types. In the passive variant described above, the bird simply sits on the anthill, waiting for the effect. But there is also a more sophisticated method. Active anting looks even more astonishing. A crow (or another bird, such as a starling or jay) takes an ant in its beak and begins to deliberately rub it on the feathers under its wings, on its belly, and tail. This resembles the application of ointment. The bird squeezes the insect so that it squirts acid directly onto the problem areas. Some individuals even shove live ants under their wings—where it’s harder to reach with their beaks.

      The astonishing thoughtfulness of nature. Looking at a crow with an ant in its beak, one can't help but admire how precisely everything is arranged in nature. Where a human would spend weeks going to pharmacies and doctors, animals have been using ready-made solutions for thousands of years. Crows don’t read textbooks on entomology or take tests, but their behavior demonstrates profound biochemical literacy.

      Not just crows: who else practices anting. Interestingly, crows are just one of many. Anting has been observed in more than 200 species of birds worldwide: jays and magpies (family Corvidae) do this regularly. Thrushes rub themselves with ants before the molting season. Songbirds sometimes use bitter beetles or even cigarette butts (in cities—a surrogate for anting) instead of ants.

      What humans can learn from crows. Modern pharmacology has long adopted formic acid. It is included in some ointments for joint pain and antiseptics. But the main lesson is not in chemistry, but in approach. The crow reminds us that caring for health doesn’t always have to be complicated and expensive. When you feel unwell, it’s not always necessary to rush for the latest antibiotics. Sometimes the solution lies closer than it seems. Perhaps right underfoot, in an old forest pile of needles and soil.

      Yulia Kazamarova

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      Crows treat themselves with ants: an amazing fact about anting in nature. This natural "SPA procedure" helps birds get rid of pests faster than any veterinarian. Observing a common crow, it's hard to imagine. 18:45 03.06.2026 Zainsk-Inform - Zainsk

      Crows treat themselves with ants: an amazing fact about anting in nature. This natural "SPA procedure" helps birds get rid of pests faster than any veterinarian. Observing a common crow, it's hard to imagine. 18:41 03.06.2026 Zainsk News - Zainsk