Red-billed oxpecker

Buphagus erythrorhynchus

The red-billed oxpecker is a passerine bird in the starling and myna family Sturnidae; some ornithologists regard the oxpeckers to be in a family by themselves, the Buphagidae. It is native to the savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Central African Republic east to South Sudan and south to northern and eastern South Africa. Its range overlaps that of the less widespread yellow-billed oxpecker.
Red-billed Oxpecker whispering in the ear of a male Black-faced Impala Black-faced Impala,Buphagus erythrorhynchus,Fall,Geotagged,Namibia,Red-billed oxpecker

Appearance

This is a medium-sized passerine, 20 cm long with strong feet. The red-billed oxpecker has plain brown upperparts and head, buff underparts and a pale rump. The bill is red, and adults have a yellow eyering, both clear distinctions from the related yellow-billed oxpecker.
Red Billed Much more common than the yellow-billed. Uploaded for comparison with the yellow-billed... Africa,Buphagus erythrorhynchus,Geotagged,Kenya,Nakuru,Red-billed oxpecker,oxpecker

Behavior

Its flight is strong and direct, and the call is a hissy crackling ''trik-quisss''.
Red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) on a Buffalo Tsavo West NP, Kenya. Mar 4, 2023 Buphagus erythrorhynchus,Geotagged,Kenya,Red-billed oxpecker,Summer

Reproduction

The red-billed oxpecker nests in tree holes lined with hair plucked from livestock. It lays 2–5 eggs, with three being the average. Outside the breeding season it forms large, chattering flocks.
Red-billed oxpecker Taken in South Africa Buphagus erythrorhynchus,Red-billed oxpecker,South Africa

Food

The preferred habitat is open country, and the red-billed oxpecker eats insects. Both the English and scientific names arise from this species' habit of perching on large wild and domesticated mammals such as cattle and eating ticks. An adult will take nearly 100 engorged female ''Boophilus decoloratus'' ticks, or more than 12,000 larvae in a day.

However, 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.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPasseriformes
FamilySturnidae
GenusBuphagus
SpeciesB. erythrorhynchus
Photographed in
Kenya
Namibia
South Africa