Yellow-billed oxpecker

The yellow-billed oxpecker is a captivating bird that belongs to the Buphagidae family. Previously, it was classified under the starling and myna family, Sturnidae. Predominantly, this bird inhabits the savannah regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to Sudan. It is less common in the eastern parts of its range, where it coexists with the red-billed oxpecker, often competing with it for food.

French zoologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson first described the yellow-billed oxpecker in 1760. Subsequently, Carl Linnaeus included it in his renowned work, Systema Naturae, in 1766, naming it Buphaga africana. Brisson also introduced the genus Buphagus. There are two recognized subspecies: B. a. africanus and B. a. langi.

Regarding nesting, the yellow-billed oxpecker prefers tree cavities, which it lines with hair from livestock. Typically, they lay 2-3 eggs per clutch. Outside the breeding season, these birds are gregarious, forming large flocks. Their diet primarily consists of insects and ticks, which they extract from large mammals like cattle. Remarkably, they mainly feed on blood, pecking at wounds to stimulate blood flow. Adult birds exhibit yellow bills with red tips, while juveniles have brown bills. Their call resembles a hissy, crackling "krisss, krisss."

In appearance, the yellow-billed oxpecker measures about 20 cm in length. It has plain brown upperparts and head, buff-colored underparts, and a pale rump. With strong feet and a direct flight pattern, these birds are well-adapted to their lifestyle. They play an essential role in controlling parasites on the animals they feed on and are generally well-tolerated by these mammals.