大鴇,尤其是雄性,會於繁殖季節食用較有毒性的植物,如虞美人及車前葉藍薊。 這些植物可以幫助殺死病原體,並預防交配時傳播的疾病。
Great bustard, especially male, tends to feed on more toxic plants like common poppies and purple viper’s-bugloss during breeding season. These plants can help kill pathogens and prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
https://phys.org/news/2022-11-world-heaviest-flying-bird-self-medicating.html