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Introduction

The yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) is a small to medium-sized African starling. Also known as tickbirds, oxpeckers have very short legs and sharp claws, which aid them in perching on the backs of large mammals, both wild and domesticated. In addition, yellow-billed oxpeckers exhibit what some would call a symbiotic relationship with these African ungulates. They feed off all ectoparasites that might infect its host. It is native to the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa , from Senegal east to Sudan. It is least common in the extreme east of its range where it overlaps with the red-billed oxpecker, despite always dominating that species when feeding.This website explores the basic social system of the yellow-billed oxpecker, focusing on its social relationships and spacing.

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