dzamie:

emerald-of-the-eight:

We all know quails as those dough bodied little birds with a single dongle growing out of their heads. But did you know that the California quail [Callipepla californica] also likes to roll in the dirt? The act of dust bathing is a communal activity that helps the quails keep their feathers clean from parasites, and is so enjoyed by them that some ornithologists can tell when a quail has been nearby just by looking for the craters left behind after a quail has finished its “bath”. Images by

Gerald and Buff Corsi.

Sparrows do this too. It’s neat to watch them fluff around.