Sylvain Cordier / American kestrel (Falco sparverius) preening tail feathers, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Sylvain Cordier / Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) preening, Socotra Island, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yemen

Frederique Olivier / Snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea) pecking at snow to use to clean feathers, Antarctica, January.

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) having a wash to remove oil from feathers, during hand rearing and rehabilitation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Cape...

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) having a wash to remove oil from feathers, during hand rearing and rehabilitation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Cape...

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) having a wash to remove oil from feathers, during hand rearing and rehabilitation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Cape...

Cheryl-Samantha Owen / Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) being washed to remove oil from feathers, in rehabilitation at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB). Cape Town, South Africa. De...

Tim Laman / Southern Ground hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri / cafer) dust bathing to clean feathers of parasites, Kruger National Park, South Africa.

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) group swimming and washing in sea to keep feathers clean and assure good insulation for their blubber encased bodies, fall morning, Right Whale Bay, South Georgi...

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) rookery with rafts of birds swimming and washing to clean their feathers, Allardyce Range in background, fall, St Andrews Bay, South Georgia Island, Southern Oce...

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adults walking into surf to bathe and clean their feathers to assure insulating properties in cold climate, fall, Southern Ocean, South Georgia Island, Antarctic...

Yva Momatiuk & John Eastcott / King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) walking into sea near rookery to clean their feathers to keep their insulating qualities, Alardyce Range and glaciers in background, fall, St Andrews Bay, South...

Tom Vezo / Catbird sitting in ants nest to clean feathers (anting) {Dumetella carolinensis} NY USA

Vishal Jadhav / Indian yellow tit (Machlolophus aplonotus) bathing in water to clean feathers, Maharashtra, India, February.