Social Play Behaviour in Captive White-fronted Amazon Parrots Amazona albifrons

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Abstract
I observed social play behaviour of two juvenile White-fronted Amazon Parrots in captivity. Social play consisted of epigamic and agonistic behaviours in addition to behaviours unique to play. Epigamic components included allopreening, bill-nibbling and pseudo-copulation. Agonistic components included foot-lifting, attack sidling, bill-gaping and neck-stretching. Behaviours unique to play included play-solicitation, play-biting and foot-clawing. Social play consisted predominantly of play fighting, where biting was detected at the opposing bird''s tarsi and toes. I believe that social play in this species serves to increase social ties between birds and to introduce and develop adult behaviours used in epigamic and agonistic contexts.

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