Frequent baths are an important part of a bird's life. Different types of birds bathe in their own way. For example, the canary and the sparrow dive right into the water. The barn swallow, though, dips in gently. Pigeons bathe only in water. Some birds, such as the "English" or house sparrow, use both water and dust. A few birds, such as turkeys and the common hen, never wash in water. Instead, they use only dust or sand. They sift the grains through their feathers, suffocating tiny parasites. Even ducks, which live in the water, need to keep themselves clean. That means they have to shed water and dirt not only from their backs, but from the rest of their bodies, as well. The solution is grease. At the base of the ducks' tail lies an oil gland. The gland releases oil onto the feathers to help keep the water from sticking. After the ducks bathe themselves, they arrange their feathers carefully. Then they spread the oil onto every part. Some birds don't use any of these methods. Herons, many parrots, and some birds of prey, make a powder. Tufts of matted feathers grow continuously. However, they never fully mature, because their tips constantly break off. The result is a fine, greasy powder. This powder works its way through the feathers and sticks to their surface.
