Starlings and Mynas: Sturnidae
Red-billed Oxpecker (buphagus Erythrorhynchus): Species Accounts
Physical characteristics: Red-billed oxpeckers have olive-brown or gray-brown upperparts, a red short, thick bill, red eyes with very noticeable yellow circles of flesh around the eyes; light gray-brown wings and tail; tan or pale yellow rump and breast, and gray legs and feet. Juveniles have a dark bill and eyes, and brown area around the eyes. Adults are 7.5 to 8.7 inches (19 to 22 centimeters) long and weigh between 1.5 and 2.1 ounces (42 and 59 grams).
Geographic range: They range widely in east and southeast Africa with a scattered distribution from western Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, south in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania,
Red-billed oxpeckers feed on ticks, fleas, and other biting flies taken from animals such as rhinoceros, elephants, giraffes, and cape buffaloes.
Habitat: Red-billed oxpeckers live in open savannas, bushlands, and forests (up to elevations of 9,000 feet (2,745 meters) that contain large mammals including domestic livestock.
Diet: The birds feed on parasites (organism living on another) such as ticks, fleas, and other biting flies taken from host mammals and on host blood and dead tissues and skin. They can eat hundreds of these parasites each day.
Behavior and reproduction: Red-billed oxpeckers remain in the same area and do not migrate. They live alongside large mammals and are often found perching (sitting) on the heads and necks of rhinoceros, elephants, giraffes, and cape buffaloes. Courtship often takes place on the backs of these host mammals. Breeding occurs at different times in different areas, often at the beginning of the rainy season but has been reported in all months. They build nests in natural tree cavities made of grasses lined with hair and dung. Females lay one to five creamy white eggs with brown to lilac speckles. The incubation period is twelve to thirteen days, and is done by both parents. Both parents and helpers feed the young. The fledgling period is about thirty days, but remain dependent on the parents for another thirty days.
Red-billed oxpeckers and people: People often consider red-billed oxpeckers as pests, especially around livestock. Extermination programs have been carried out in various agricultural areas to kill off the birds.
Conservation status: Red-billed oxpeckers are listed as Not Threatened. Their numbers have declined in areas that use pesticides to control the birds around livestock. ∎
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Alsop, Fred J. III. Birds of North America. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2001.
Baughman, Mel M., ed. Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America. Washington, DC: National Geographic, 2003.
del Hoyo, Josep, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal, Jose Cabot, et al., eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1992.
Dickinson, Edward C., ed. The Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World, 3rd ed. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, U.K.: Princeton University Press, 2003.
Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 4th ed. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society, 2002.
Forshaw, Joseph, ed. Encyclopedia of Birds, 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press, 1998.
Harrison, Colin James Oliver. Birds of the World. London and New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1993.
Kaufman, Kenn, with collaboration of Rick and Nora Bowers and Lynn Hassler Kaufman. Birds of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2000.
Sibley, David. The Sibley Guide to Birds. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.
Terres, John K. The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds. New York: Knopf, 1980.
Additional topics
- Starlings and Mynas: Sturnidae - European Starling (sturnus Vulgaris): Species Accounts
- Other Free Encyclopedias
Animal Life ResourceBirdsStarlings and Mynas: Sturnidae - Physical Characteristics, Behavior And Reproduction, Common Myna (acridotheres Tristis): Species Accounts, European Starling (sturnus Vulgaris): Species Accounts - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, HABITAT, DIET, MYNAS STARLINGS AND PEOPL