Killing Bird.Oxpecker KrugerPark

Killing Birds. Oxpeckers feed exclusively on the backs of large mammals. Certain species are seemingly preferred, whereas others, like the Lichtenstein's hartebeest or Topi are generally avoided. Smaller antelope such as lechwe, duikers and reedbuck are also avoided, the smallest regularly used species is the Impala, probably because of the heavy tick load and social nature of that species. In many parts of their range they now feed on cattle, but avoid camels. They feed on ectoparasites, particularly ticks, as well as insects infecting wounds and the flesh and blood of some wounds as well. Some times they are making a wound bigger to drink the blood but than a major infection can be the result of that and it can lead to the death of the host animal.

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Category:

Pets & Animals

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• Killing
• Birds
• Oxpecker
• tick
• wound
• blood
• infection
• KrugerPark
• SANParks
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[starguard]

I would think that they would also do large animals good by removing any ticks or parasitic insects that are feeding on it

[awbvrou]

@borninfreedom - Very nice good quality video - well done. Heel leuk, een echt prach

video.

[Larselars]

Nice filming and cool birds ! Nice info too !

[silentfades]

very interesting

thanks