Blackbirds using ants as insecticide

[Commoncopper]

Hi, I observed a blackbird possibly 'anting' in my garden in New Plymouth. See https://youtu.be/j2qFh84KVsE.
By this I mean using ants, or specifically their formic acid emissions, to remove parasites in the feathers. A quick search of the web suggests this behaviour is known in this species. Has anyone else observed this behaviour in NZ? Or does anyone have an alternate theory for the bird's behaviour?
Thanks

[David Riddell]

I saw a thrush doing this back in 2010 - see viewtopic.php?f=3&t=901&p=3820#p3820, there's also a thread on the topic at viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7092&p=42920
Your video shows what looks like classic anting behaviour, though as one post in that anting thread pointed out (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7092&start=10#p42922) birds apparently sometimes do something superficially similar using sunlight to control mites. On reflection that's probably what the spotted dove I saw in Singapore (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7092#p34419) was doing. In the very warm weather we've been having lately I've often seen our resident barbary dove (viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2607&p=49763#p49763) doing the same thing, sprawled out on our pebble courtyard with one wing in the air. There are usually a few ants around, but the dove doesn't seem to pay them much attention or seek them out.

[Steps]

Our captive kakariki used to do it in the aviaries.
We could observe 1m or less away.
Quite cool.