Red-Billed Oxpecker

Description:

Red-billed oxpeckers: vampires or tickbirds? These small birds feed almost exclusively on what they can glean from the skin of large African mammals. Their diet includes ixodid ticks, dead skin, mucus, saliva, sweat and tears, but most of all, the prefer blood!

Habitat:

These were found snacking on whatever the Giraffe could provide them with in their fur. In the area it is very common to see the Red-billed oxpecker. They were spotted just at the beginning of the winter season and the area are a mix of tree savanna and subtropical dry forest.

Notes:

Their preferred food is blood, and while they may take ticks bloated with blood, they also feed on it directly, pecking at the mammal's wounds to keep them open to more parasites. Oxpecker/mammal interactions are the subject of some debate and ongoing research. They were originally thought to be an example of mutualism, but recent evidence suggests that oxpeckers may be parasites instead. If you want to read more, there is an Interesting article here: http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content...