A red-billed oxpecker and its young hop along a somnolent African buffalo, looking for ticks and larvae. The buffalo doesn't seem to mind the birds, even being tolerant of it poking around its eyelids.
These birds occupy a unique part of the food chain. Their food source is ectoparasites, and fortunately for them, supply is plentiful and competition is low.
Oxpeckers are in the family Buphagidae. There are two different kinds, the red-billed (Buphagus erythrorynchus) and the yellow-billed (Buphagus africanus).
Chapters:
Introduction 00:00
Where are they found? 00:43
Appearance 01:01
Their hosts 01:23
What do they eat? 01:57
Oxpecker sentinels 03:40
Conclusion 04:24
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Thumbnail photo credit: Charles J Sharp from Wikipedia
Credits not given in video:
Range maps by Cephus from Wikipedia
Range map birds:
-Red-billed oxpecker by Peelan from canva.com, background removed
-Yellow-billed oxpecker by Patrick_Gijspers from canva.com, background removed
Their hosts:
-African buffalo by RudiHulshof from Canva.com
-Zebra by Clinton Austin from Canva.com
-Impala by namibelephant from Canva.com
-Giraffe by ChrisVanLennepPhoto from Canva.com
-Hippopotamus by EcoPic from Canva.com
-Rhinoceros by Camila1111 from Canva.com
Have you found an injured or orphaned bird or wildlife?
Do an online search for a wildlife rehabilitation clinic in your area. They will tell you what to do. If you can't find one, contact a local veterinarian and see if they know who to contact. Do not attempt to rehabilitate a bird or animal on your own.