Using their beaks, they gather preen oil from a gland at the base of their tail and distribute this oil through their feathers. They draw each contour feather through their bill, nibbling it from base to tip. Over time, some elements of preening have evolved to have secondary functions.

How do you encourage preening?

If your bird has an mite or tick infestation, preening will also remove some of these pests from his body. You can encourage your bird to clean himself through preening by misting him daily with tap water.

How do you preen feathers?

To preen, a hummer first ruffles its feathers, fluffing out and then uses its long bill to nibble along each feather. The nibbling removes oil, dirt, and parasites. As it nibbles, the bird takes tiny droplets of fresh oil from a gland at the base of its tail and works the oil into its feathers.