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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
About 9 inches in length. Has a short, thick, red bill. Red eyes surrounded by large, bright-yellow eye-rings. The head, neck, wings, and tail are brown-grey. The undersides are pale yellow. It has clear distinctions from the related [[Yellow-billed Oxpecker]]. The call is a ''trik-quisss''. | About 9 inches in length. Has a short, thick, red bill. Red eyes surrounded by large, bright-yellow eye-rings. The head, neck, wings, and tail are brown-grey. The undersides are pale yellow. It has clear distinctions from the related [[Yellow-billed Oxpecker]]. The call is a ''trik-quisss''. | ||
| + | ==Distribution== | ||
Southern [[Africa]] | Southern [[Africa]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
Revision as of 15:58, 22 September 2007
- Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Identification
About 9 inches in length. Has a short, thick, red bill. Red eyes surrounded by large, bright-yellow eye-rings. The head, neck, wings, and tail are brown-grey. The undersides are pale yellow. It has clear distinctions from the related Yellow-billed Oxpecker. The call is a trik-quisss.
Distribution
Southern Africa
Taxonomy
Habitat
Savanna
Behaviour
The Red-billed Oxpecker can be found perched on large mammals. It feeds on the host's skin parasites, bothersome flies, dead host skin, and sometimes a special treat of blood from a wound. Nests in a hole in a tree; the nests are lined with hair taken from livestock; the female lays 1-5 eggs.
