Birds do a regular dust bath, a way to condition their feathers. Not all birds dust bath but it is common in sparrow species, robins, bluebirds, and wrens. Here’s a look at the video of how a sparrow does dust baths.
They dig a hole with their feet, they push their bellies into the dust and throw it under the wings and over the backs of the birds as if it were water. The goal of their quest is to get as much dust as they can into their feathers and then down to their skin. An oil-secreting gland is released throughout a bird's plumage during preening. The weather-resistant, flexible feathers are maintained by this oil, enabling them to soar. However, as a result of this oil accumulation, their feathers may become matted and oily. Particles attach themselves to extra oil when they bathe in it. This bird has now acquired fluffier feathers that make it more flight-worthy.
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