Yellow-billed Oxpecker

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker shares the same specialized lifestyle as its close relative the Red-billed Oxpecker, living almost entirely on the bodies of large African mammals. It has the same stocky build, strong clawed feet, and stiff bracing tail adapted for clinging to a host's hide.

Plumage is duller and plainer than the Red-billed Oxpecker, brownish above with a paler, less contrasting rump, and buffy underparts.

Key field marks

• Bill is yellow at the base and red at the tip, distinct from the all-red bill of the Red-billed Oxpecker
• No bright yellow eye-ring; the eye appears plain and dark-surrounded
• Duller, more uniform brown plumage with a less contrasting pale rump
• Sturdy body with strong claws for gripping host animals

Similar species

The Red-billed Oxpecker is the main confusion species, distinguished by its entirely red bill and conspicuous yellow eye-ring. In areas where both species occur together, bill color is the most reliable field mark.

Habitat and range

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker is found across a broad band of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and West Africa east to parts of East Africa and locally into southern Africa where it has been reintroduced or has recolonized areas, generally in savanna and woodland with abundant large mammals.

Migration

It is resident, with movements dictated by the local presence of host animals such as buffalo, hippopotamus, and antelope rather than true migration.

Behavior

Like the Red-billed Oxpecker, this species spends nearly all its time perched on large mammals, moving over the body in search of ticks. It forms small groups, sometimes joining mixed flocks with Red-billed Oxpeckers where ranges overlap.

Voice

Calls are hissing and churring notes similar to those of the Red-billed Oxpecker, given while foraging on a host or in flight between animals.

Feeding

It feeds on ticks and other ectoparasites gleaned from the skin of large mammals, along with blood from wounds and some insects disturbed by grazing animals.

Nesting and breeding

Nests are built in tree cavities, lined with hair from host mammals. Clutch size is typically 2–3 eggs.