Dust bathing is an animal behavior characterized by rolling or moving around in dust, dry earth or sand, with the likely purpose of removing parasites from fur, feathers or skin. Dust bathing is a maintenance behavior performed by a wide range of mammalian and avian species. For some animals, dust baths are necessary to maintain healthy feathers, skin, or fur, similar to bathing in water or wallowing in mud. In some mammals, dust bathing may be a way of transmitting chemical signals to the ground which marks an individual's territory.
Sparrows dust bathing
A dust bathing turkey
Ashy-crowned sparrow-lark bird dust bathing
A group of Malabar pied hornbill birds dust bathing in India
Comfort behaviour in animals
Comfort behaviours in animals are activities that help maintain the pelage, feathers, integuement or musculoskeletal system and increase the physical comfort of the animal.
Dust bathing mountain zebra in Namibia
Mother monkey hugs her baby creating contact comfort.
Grooming behaviour of a king cheetah
Squirrel scratching its armpit with its hindlimb claws – a process of autogrooming