THE red-billed oxpecker is a common resident in and around large game reserves in the north-east of South Africa and Zululand, but do wander beyond their normal range where they are found with cattle and game.
They like savanna and bushveld, feeding on ticks, horseflies and the wound tissue and dry skin flakes of the host animal.
These oxpeckers are usually found in groups of two to six birds. They forage on giraffes, kudu, sable antelope, hippo, rhino, impala, nyala, buffalo, zebra and large domestic stock. While clambering around the host mammal, they use their tails as a prop to gleaning the parasites. They move to the far side of the host when disturbed, before flying off.
The flight is fast, direct and slightly undulating. At night they roost communally in trees or reedbeds and often on large game animals especially buffalo.
The call is a scolding sharp hiss – kssss, kssss and in flight a short pitched twittering – zit, zit. Breeding takes place from September until February and they may raise three broods in a season.
The nest is a cup shaped pad of hair, on a foundation of dung and grass, in the natural hole of a tree one to 15 metres above the ground.
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Two to three pinkish white eggs are laid. Incubation lasts 12 to 13 days and they are nestlings for 26 to 30 days where they are fed by both parents and up to three helpers.
The isiZulu name is iHlalankomo and in Afrikaans die Rooibekrenostervoel.
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