Heaviest Bird Possibly Self-Medicating With Traditional Parasite-Killing Plants

The phenomenon of self-medication in animals has long fascinated researchers, encompassing a wide range of species from primates to insects. While the concept of animals using plants for medicinal purposes is not new, proving such behavior beyond doubt in wild animals presents significant challenges. Recent observations of great bustards, one of the heaviest bird species, suggest that they might engage in self-medication using traditional parasite-killing plants during the mating season. This behavior raises intriguing questions about the potential benefits and implications for these magnificent birds.

Self-medication is a notion that extends across various animal groups, including mammals, birds, and insects. Primates, bears, deer, elk, macaws, honeybees, and even fruit flies have been suspected to self-medicate in different ways. However, establishing conclusive evidence for self-medication in wild animals is a complex task. Unlike controlled laboratory settings, wild animals do not allow for double-blind trials or dose-effect studies, which are standard in human and veterinary medicine. This inherent challenge makes confirming self-medication behavior in wild animals a delicate endeavor.

The great bustard (Otis tarda), listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, is a fascinating subject for investigating self-medication behavior. These large birds inhabit grasslands spanning from Europe and Africa to Asia. A significant portion of the global great bustard population resides in the Iberian Peninsula. Researchers are particularly interested in exploring whether both male and female great bustards engage in self-medication using medicinal plants during the mating season, a time when sexually transmitted diseases are prevalent.

The potential benefits of self-medication among great bustards during the mating season are noteworthy. Males that consume plants containing compounds effective against diseases might exhibit improved health, vitality, and attractiveness to females. This behavior could play a role in sexual selection, enhancing the chances of successful reproduction. However, establishing a direct link between plant consumption and improved health remains challenging due to the complexities of wild ecosystems and limited experimental possibilities

Researchers have been studying great bustards, particularly in the Madrid and Castille-Leon regions of Spain, since the early 1980s. Their recent study involved collecting and analyzing droppings from male and female great bustards, focusing on the presence of recognizable plant remains. Among the plant species that the birds typically consume, two species—corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and purple viper’s bugloss (Echium plantagineum)—were consumed more frequently than expected during the mating season. These plants are known for their potential anti-parasitic properties.

The intriguing possibility of great bustards engaging in self-medication with traditional parasite-killing plants sheds light on the complex behaviors of wild animals. While challenges in experimental design and verification persist, these findings underscore the remarkable adaptations that animals might have developed over time to combat diseases. Further research is needed to ascertain the precise mechanisms and benefits of self-medication in great bustards, contributing to our broader understanding of animal behavior and ecological interactions.