Alternative name: Tickbird
- Buphagus africanus
Identification
20 cm.
- Yellow bill with red tip
- Red eye
- Plain brown upperparts and head
- Buff underparts and pale rump
Sexes similar. Juveniles have first a yellow bill and a narrow yellow eyering, both becoming dark brown and eventually like adults within the first year.
Similar species
Red-billed Oxpecker has a red bill and a prominent yellow eyering.
Distribution
Found in Africa, from Senegal east to Ethiopia and south to South Africa, except for forested areas in western and central Africa.
Far less common than Red-billed Oxpecker and tends to leave areas where cattle are treated to prevent ticks. As a result they're now mostly found in National Parks and Reserves.
Taxonomy
Hybrids with Red-billed Oxpecker have been recorded.
Subspecies
Two subspecies recognized:1
- B. a. africanus
- Savanna of Africa south of the Sahara
- B. a. langi
Habitat
Found in open savanna. Some trees are required for breeding and roosting.
Behaviour
Diet
They spend most of their time on the heads and backs of large mammals; mostly buffalo, giraffe, impala and warthog.
Their diet consists almost entirely of insects and ticks.
Breeding
A co-operative breeder, a pair is assisted by several helpers, who help feed the young. It nests in tree holes lined with animal hair. The clutch consists of 2–3 eggs.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Birdwatching.com.na
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Yellow-billed Oxpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 13 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yellow-billed_Oxpecker
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
