Birds of Different Species Spotted Preening Each Other in Texas

Researchers say the behavior may be more common than documented

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Researchers and volunteers in Texas have documented birds of different species, including crested caracaras and black vultures, preening one another. Experts say this behavior, known as interspecific allopreening, is rarely observed and may be more widespread than the limited records suggest.

Why it matters

This behavior challenges the common perception that nature is always about conflict, and instead shows examples of collaboration and cooperation between different bird species. Understanding interspecific allopreening could provide insights into how different species coexist and interact in urban environments.

The details

In separate incidents, volunteers Lora Reynolds and Lori Boies observed crested caracaras and black vultures preening each other in San Antonio's Phil Hardberger Park. Boies also witnessed the behavior on the roof of her house. While allopreening is common between members of the same species, interspecific allopreening has been rarely documented, with only a handful of previous records, mostly from rural areas in Texas and Central/South America.

  • On Feb. 4, 2023, Lora Reynolds witnessed the behavior in Phil Hardberger Park.
  • In 2022, Lori Boies observed the behavior on the roof of her house, about a mile from the park.
  • The park shared photos of the interaction on its website and social media in February 2023.

The players

Lora Reynolds

A volunteer with the Bexar Audubon Society who witnessed the behavior in Phil Hardberger Park.

Lori Boies

A local cancer biologist and nature photographer who observed the behavior on the roof of her house.

Crested caracara

A raptor in the falcon family that was observed being preened by black vultures.

Black vulture

A bird species that was observed preening crested caracaras.

Neil Buckley

A professor of biological sciences at SUNY Plattsburgh who documented similar interspecific allopreening behavior during his doctoral research.

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What they’re saying

“It was just very weird to see that.”

— Lora Reynolds, Volunteer, Bexar Audubon Society (nytimes.com)

“People think that nature is always about violence and conflict, red in tooth and claw. But actually there's a lot of collaboration and cooperation that goes on.”

— Neil Buckley, Professor of Biological Sciences, SUNY Plattsburgh (nytimes.com)

“I got excited because this is something I had never heard of, and I hadn't even imagined to be possible.”

— Wenyi Zhou, Ornithologist (nytimes.com)

What’s next

Researchers plan to continue studying interspecific allopreening behavior to better understand its prevalence and potential ecological implications.

The takeaway

This unexpected behavior between different bird species challenges common perceptions about the natural world and highlights the value of citizen science observations in uncovering new insights about animal behavior and interspecies interactions.