Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) photo
A feeding adult Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
These birds use a scissoring action to "comb" through the fur of their hosts to remove ticks and other ectoparasites. However they also pick at wounds to encourage bleeding and mammalian blood probably comprises a significant part of their diet!
- Recorded 13 October 2008
- Added to IBC 2 years 14 weeks ago
- Steve Garvie
- Locality Tendaba, Lower River Division , The Gambia (ssp africanus).
Rating
More material of this species
- 4.8Adult group of...The Gambia, Oct 2008
- 4.7perchingThe Gambia, Dec 2011
- 4.3A bird on top ...Senegal,
- 4.3A bird and the...Uganda, Sep 2006
- 4.2Several birds ...Kenya, Aug 2000
- 4with a Thornic...Zambia, Aug 2011
Recent material by Steve Garvie
- 4.5An adult perch...Kenya, Jul 2010
- 4.3An adult male ...Kenya, Jul 2010
- 4.2A calling adul...Kenya, Jul 2010
- 4.7An adult shadi...Kenya, Jul 2010
- 4.6Male Verreaux'...Kenya, Jul 2010
- 4.2This female Ve...Kenya, Jul 2010
Image taken in a low evening sun as we were returning to camp.