The Red-billed Oxpecker (Rooibekrenostervoël (Afrikaans), ihlalankomo (isiZulu), and ihlalanyathi (isiXhosa)) is a fascinating bird known for its complex relationship with large herbivores, such as buffalo, giraffes, and rhinos.

Red-billed oxpeckers are highly social and vocal, often seen in flocks, and are adaptable, feeding on a variety of animals and scavenging from carcasses when necessary. They nest in tree cavities, with both parents sharing incubation, and other members of the flock contributing to chick care. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in savannas, grasslands, and open woodlands, oxpeckers play a significant role in the ecosystem, particularly by their controlling of tick populations.

The breeding behaviour of this species is fascinating and involves several key aspects. These birds typically nest in tree cavities or holes, where they lay 2 to 4 eggs, which are incubated by both parents.  The oxpeckers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, and both the male and female share responsibility for incubating the eggs, and multiple helpers from the flock help in caring for the chicks. The chicks are fed by regurgitation, with both parents and helpers contributing food, mainly small insects and parasites like ticks.

The Red-billed Oxpecker is currently classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This status indicates that the species is not facing significant immediate threats to its population over its entire range, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. In the species’ South African range, “It represents a conservation success story, as its numbers have increased and its range has expanded”, says our Chief Executive Officer, Mark D. Anderson. For decades, their population and range was shrinking, but in recent years, thanks to concerted conservation efforts, the tide has turned. Dr Lorinda Hart, our Birds & Agrochemicals Project Manager shares that “Although the population increase can partly be attributed to reintroductions into areas where they had previously been extirpated, farmers have assisted this useful species by using more oxpecker-friendly alternatives [to poisonous dips] to control ticks and other ectoparasites on their cattle and game.”

https://www.birdlife.org.za/bird-of-the-year-2025/ / Photo by Marinda Bruwer.