An apparent case of interspecific allopreening by a Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia Matthew Mo NSW Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568, Australia. Email:
[email protected] DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2016.020 Introduction The altruistic behaviour, allopreening is widespread Spoonbills in breeding plumage were observed, with one amongst birds, especially in aggregating species (Waltman spoonbill seen on a nest on 23 March 2016. Subsequent Downloaded from http://meridian.allenpress.com/australian-zoologist/article-pdf/38/2/214/2866583/az_2016_020.pdf by guest on 28 September 2021 and Beissinger 1992; Radford and Du Plessis 2006; Cox visits on 2 and 9 May located four immature spoonbills in 2012; Gill 2012). One obvious benefit is the removal of a mixed flock with six to eight Australian White Ibises. ectoparasites and maintenance of plumage condition, On both these days, the mixed flock was at the same although close proximity may also aid the transmission locality, with individual birds alternating between feeding of parasites (Frigerio et al. 2016). Allopreening also in the shallows of the western side of the lake and resting appears to have important social functions, with some or preening on the small island structures. studies suggesting it promotes pair bonding (Barbour and Degange 1982), buffers the negative effects of social stress On 12 May, observations were made between 1145 and (Scheiber et al. 2005; Hennessy et al. 2006; Stoẅe et al. 1320 hours. There were two immature spoonbills and 2008) and reduces the likelihood of interspecific conflicts seven ibises present.