Strange bird colorful likes to eat clay

In the mountains of southeastern Peruvian clay, it is estimated that up to 18 species of parrot gather to eat . every day. Why do they have this habit?

Previously, researchers believed that the ingredients in clay had the ability to prevent bird poisoning in the wild. As a result, when the food source is scarce, birds can digest fruits containing a moderate level of toxins.

Several laboratory-level studies have shown that clay can combine with some toxic elements and prevent them from entering the circulatory system, keeping parrots safe.

The second hypothesis is that clay helps to supplement some of the essential minerals that a plant-only diet is not sufficient.

For parrots in the Amazon, sodium is considered essential for the functioning of the nervous system as well as muscle contraction. The supply of sodium in tropical rainforests is often difficult to find, but is stored in clay tablets.

It is estimated that the Amazon clay soils contain 40 times more sodium than the foods that parrots normally consume.

The two hypotheses of parrots that eat clay are either to detoxify or provide extra nutrients - (Image: GETTY IMAGES).

Between the two theories above, which one is true? To find the answer, biologist Donald Brighsmith - Texas A&M University (USA) - conducted a 16-year observation project of parrots in the Amazon forest area to study the clay eating habits of the clay. parrots.

According to NPR, after more than 20,000 hours of observing and recording data over a long period of time between diet and body index, Brighsmith's team concluded the evidence shows that parrots eat clay for detoxification. convince.

Instead, the statistics between diet and deficiency in some parrots are more closely related.

In particular, Elizabeth Hobson - a behavioral ecologist at the Santa Fe Institute (USA), a co-author of the study - said most female birds eat clay the most during pregnancy. This is to provide extra nutrition to the baby during delivery.

"Sodium is essential but often severely lacking in the diet of the Amazon parrot, so they need to replenish it, especially in important times like pregnancy , " Hobson said.

According to Mrinalini Watsa - University biologist Missouri-St. Louis (USA) - the habit of "eating ground" also appears in many other animals, including elephants, bats, or chimpanzees.

Watsa explained that, for higher animals, the soil habit is often intended to detoxify or aid digestion rather than replenishing substances.

It is estimated that up to 18 species of parrots come to eat clay in southeastern Peru - (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).

Parrots, which are a typical species in South America - (Photo: GETTY IMAGES).

The image of a parrot eating clay not only attracts the curiosity of scientists but also to tourists - (Image: GETTY IMAGES).