Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/12/2008

Question
I found an indigo bunting soaked with water near our creek & I took it in , dried & warmed it up & took it back to the area where I found it but a safe distance from the water.  The bird found its way to the water again & was drenched so I repeated the drying & warming in the sun then putting it a safer distance away from the water.  Later I found it back in the water but couldn't get to it in time before it drowned.  Do you know anything about this behavior or why it would do such a thing?

Answer
Songbirds often take water baths, even to the extent that they can't fly until they dry off. This behavior cleans feathers and kills parasites on the skin and feathers. Sometimes they do it if it is quite hot. I can't explain why it drowned because I can't examine the bird. However, if you see a wet bird again in such a situation, you can assume it is normal behavior.