https://doi.org/10.4081/rio.2026.1009
I need some ants too: heterospecific and conspecific social facilitation of anting in congeneric crows from India
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Published: 8 July 2026
Anting is a self-maintenance behaviour in birds involving the application of ants to feathers, yet it remains poorly documented in India. We report an observation of active anting in a Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) and House Crows (Corvus splendens) from Coonoor, Nilgiris, southern India. The behaviour occurred beneath a cypress tree in the presence of Yellow ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) and was analysed using a video-based ethogram. Active anting constituted the dominant activity. Notably, two House Crows subsequently exhibited similar behaviour after observing the Large-billed Crow, indicating heterospecific social facilitation. This note provides rare documentation of anting and social learning in Indian crows.
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