allopreen

verb, transitive + intransitive

al·​lo·​preen ˈa-lə-ˌprēn 

allopreens; allopreened; allopreening

of a bird

: to preen or groom the skin or feathers of another bird

On other occasions in succeeding weeks the female allopreened her mate, who sometimes solicited by putting his head down.

—Lawrence Kilham, The American Crow and the Common Raven, 1991

Allopreening in birds is usually directed at the top of the head, a part of the body not easily reached by the recipient.

—James F. Wittenberger, Animal Social Behavior, 1981

Word History

Etymology

allo- + preen entry 3

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

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