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Rare Allopreening: Vulture Preens Crested Caracara in San Antonio

2/10/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On February 4, 2023, at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, a crested caracara was seen being preened by a black vulture, photographed by Lora Reynolds of the Bexar Audubon Society.
This interspecific allopreening is rarely documented.
Lori Boies, a local cancer biologist, recalled a similar event a year earlier, when two caracaras were preened by vultures on her rooftop, and the observation has sparked interest among birdwatchers and scientists.

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Story summary

On February 4, 2023, at Phil Hardberger Park in San Antonio, a crested caracara was seen being preened by a black vulture, photographed by Lora Reynolds of the Bexar Audubon Society.
This interspecific allopreening is rarely documented.
Lori Boies, a local cancer biologist, recalled a similar event a year earlier, when two caracaras were preened by vultures on her rooftop, and the observation has sparked interest among birdwatchers and scientists.