Least Concern Birds

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythrorynchus

Red-billed Oxpecker feeds on parasites on large mammals in African savannas.

Scientific name	Buphagus erythrorynchus
Swahili name	Mwangwi mwekundu
Conservation status	Least Concern
Class	Aves
Order	Passeriformes
Family	Buphagidae
Size	Male: approximately 42-46 grams; female: slightly lighter, about 40-45 grams

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How to identify

Bright red bill; plumage mainly brown and gray; dark spots on crown and back; yellow bare skin around eyes; short tail

Habitat

Open woodland savanna, open forests, and grasslands near large mammals

Diet

Mainly feeds on ticks, lice, and other parasites on large mammals; also pecks at blood and tissue from host wounds; does not eat fruits or seeds.

When it is active

Diurnal, active during the day

Where it lives

Distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa; commonly seen in Maasai Mara National Reserve

How to spot it

Observe near herds of large mammals, especially on wildebeests and zebras; use binoculars or telephoto lenses

Photography tips

Photograph using soft light at dawn or dusk; capture moments of interaction between oxpecker and host animal; use telephoto lenses to avoid disturbance