This is Bird Note.

Birds spend lots of time keeping their feathers in top condition.

This can include bathing or perhaps sunning, but the number one means of feather care is preening.

When preening.

When preening, a bird first grips a feather in its beak near the feather's base. Then it slides its beak along the length of the feather toward the tip.

This action smooths together the tiny structures called barbules that make up the feather, while also removing

dirt and small parasites. If a bird's feathers get too dry down, they become brittle. To prevent that

from happening, most birds have a gland located above the base of the tail that produces oil.

Birds use their beaks to massage oil from the gland into their feathers to keep them supple.

But how does a bird preem feathers in hard-to-reach places, like the head and neck?

Using its beak, a bird can dab oil on its toes, then comb its head feathers with its toes,

or a bird might wipe its head directly on the prine gland,

or your epigial gland, as it's called.

Some bird pairs preen each other's head and neck,

although this may be less about hygiene

and more about keeping the bond between them strong and certain.

For bird note, I'm Mary McCann.