Why do pigeons sunbathe when the sun is at its hottest was a mystery to me until I researched the behaviour.
I first saw pigeons and doves sunbathing on the hot sand at midday when we camped at Yellow Sands in 2023.
Looking into this strange behaviour when the day is at its hottest, I wondered why pigeons sunbathe and found that it is to control lice and other pests.
Feather lice have been found to die at around 70 degrees C, so short bursts of hot sunshine will get rid of the pests. It could also be that the heat forces the lice out of the plumage where the bird can remove them more easily.