Yellow-billed Oxpecker ( Buphagus africanus, family: Sturnidae)

yellow billed oxpecter Kruger National Park birds The Yellow-billed Oxpecker (Latin name Buphagus africanus) is described in Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, 7th Edition. This bird has a unique Roberts number of 771 and you will find a full description of this bird on page 973 also a picture of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker on page 976. The Yellow-billed Oxpecker belongs to the family of birds classified as Sturnidae.

In the previous edition of Roberts (ie 6th edition) the Yellow-billed Oxpecker was called the

The map of the Kruger you see on this page shows the areas (coloured orange) where this bird has been identified. The basic information was provided by the Avian Demographic Unit based at UCT and I created the maps from that information ... the green dots show the locations of the various Kruger National Park Rest Camps

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker is neither Endemic or near Endemic to the Kruger National Park. It is however a uncommon resident

In terms of distribution of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker in the Kruger National Park you may not see it in all areas. Yellow-billed Oxpecker : see above distribution map.

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker.

Kruger Park Yellowbilled OxpeckerIdentification assistance for this avian species ...

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker is a smallish bird but somewhat larger than a house sparrow. The height of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker is about 20 cms and its weight is about 60 gms

The male and female Yellow-billed Oxpecker have the same plumage and colours

  • Head is brown.
  • Eye is red.
  • Bill is yellow.
  • Throat is white.
  • Back is brown.
  • Legs are black.

This bird has normally proportioned leg length.

Main diet items for this bird ...

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker feeds on the ground, and on the wing mainly

Smaller animals

Invertebrates

Seeds

Breeding and nesting habits for this bird ...

The Yellow-billed Oxpecker is monogamous unless its mate dies. In the event of a partner dying Buphagus africanus will seek out a new mate

The nesting habit of Yellow-billed Oxpecker is to create the nest on the ground. The bird lays eggs which are white in colour and number between 2 to 3

Habitat and flocking behaviour for this bird ...

The preferred habitats for Yellow-billed Oxpecker are: woodlands and grasslands and riverine areas

You will normally see the Yellow-billed Oxpecker by itself rather than in the company of birds of the same species.

Names of this avian species in other languages ...

Xhosa ... Unknown

Zulu ... iHlalankomo/iHlalanyathi

Afrikaans ...Geelbekrenostervol

German ... Gelbschnabel-Madenhacker

Portuguese ... Pica-bois-de-bico-amarelo

French ... Piqueboeuf bec jaune

Dutch ... Geelsnavel-Ossepikker

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For in-depth birding information please refer to these authoritative avian references ...

Robert's 7th edition number ... 771

The main reference source for this data was "Roberts - Birds of Southern Africa, 7th Edition" . Other references were "Newmans Birds of the Kruger Park" by Keith Newman published circa 1980 . Names in foreign languages were obtained from the Percy Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town website , www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za