Black Vulture and Crested Caracara

exas-based bird photographer Alan Murphy shot this photo in March 2022 during a photography workshop he since it occurs between two animals) lasted for about five minutes. Immature Crested Caracaras will allow Black Vultures but not Turkey Vultures to preen them. In turn, caracaras will preen Black Vultures. The behavior begins when the recipient approaches another bird and places the back of its neck below the bird’s bill. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Birds of the World website explains: “Giver preens recipient around head and neck, crest, face, and breast feathers for periods averaging 16-20 seconds and then preening is reciprocated. Recipient remains still with head lowered, raises head in response to allopreening under bill and around face.” A 1984 report of allopreening between the species speculated that the “preening may allow caracaras to join Black Vultures for foraging and roosting.”