A behavior of certain birds in which they pick up ants in their beaks and rub them on their feathers, possibly to clean feathers or repel parasites.
From ant + -ing (the action of). This ornithological term was first scientifically documented in the early 20th century but the behavior itself has existed as long as ants and birds.
Birds like crows and jays do 'anting' in such strange, almost ecstatic-looking ways—sometimes lying down and letting ants crawl all over them—that early scientists thought they were sick, but we now know it's actually clever pest control.
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