Feathers require maintenance and birds preen or groom them daily, spending an average of around 9% of their daily time on this. The bill is used to brush away foreign particles and to apply waxy secretions from the uropygial gland; these secretions protect the feathers' flexibility and act as an antimicrobial agent, inhibiting the growth of feather-degrading bacteria. This may be supplemented with the secretions of formic acid from ants, which birds receive through a behaviour known as anting, to remove feather parasites. COUNT 4
QSN1 How often do birds groom their feathers? ANS1 daily QSN2 What percentage of their day do birds groom their feathers? ANS2 9% QSN3 What do birds use to brush away foreign particles? ANS3 The bill QSN4 What is the process of removing feather parasites? ANS4 anting