Wild turkeys perform several behaviors to care for their feathers and overall health, including dusting, sunning, and anting, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks reported.
During dusting, both adult birds and poults lay on their breasts and flap their wings, tossing dirt over themselves. This behavior helps keep their feathers in good condition, even if it appears like they are having a meltdown in the dirt, according to the department.
Sunning involves turkeys laying on their sides with one wing and leg extended into direct sunlight. This helps regulate body temperature, remove moisture after rain, and dislodge parasites. Anting, another behavior, occurs when turkeys dust in ant mounds, allowing ants to crawl through their feathers to reduce parasites like feather mites and lice. This behavior is most common during late summer and early fall during molting periods.
The department notes that these behaviors may seem odd to observers but are vital routines for wild turkeys’ health. More information about the daily life of turkeys can be found at the National Wild Turkey Federation’s website.
