Sciences. The common bustard – the heaviest flying bird, probably uses herbs

common bustard Follow Favoritealso called Big bust, it’s hard not to notice: it’s huge and colorful. here they are Heavier flying birds – indicate researchers from the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid. Their males perform spectacular displays to attract females. According to the latest observations, this species has another noteworthy feature – Actively looking for two medicinal plants. This may mean a rare case of herbal self-medication among birds.

“We have shown that Houbara bustards select plants containing substances that show antiparasitic activity in laboratory tests,” says Dr. Luis Bautista Sobelana, first author of the paper published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.

The great bustard hunts two species that are also used by humans in traditional medicine. We have shown that both contain substances that destroy protozoa and worms, and that one of these plants contains antifungal compounds,” adds Dr Azucena González Coloma, co-author of the paper.

Scientists report that large bustards forage in the grassy regions of western Europe and northwestern Africa. About 70 percent of the world’s population lives in the Iberian Peninsula. Females usually stay in one area, while males move around, returning to the same lek each year. Birds, living in the same place, come into contact with their feces, which increases the risk of contracting various infections (which is also favored by mating). At the same time, during mating, the male’s immune system is clearly weakened – and this is associated with a really great effort aimed at attracting females.

Theoretically, large bustards of both sexes could benefit from foraging on medicinal plants during mating season, as mating season is when sexually transmitted diseases are most common. Males who use these plants may appear healthier, stronger, and more attractive to femalesexplains Dr. Gonzalez Coloma.