Oxpecker Facts: they drink BLOOD | Animal Fact Files

Oxpeckers are those birds commonly seen riding on the backs of large African mammals. There are two oxpecker species and wile both of them peck ticks, they also drink BLOOD! Learn more oxpecker facts on this episode of Animal Fact Files!
Scientific Name: Genus - Buphagus
-yellow-billed oxpecker (Buphagus africanus)
-red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus)
Range: sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat: savannahs (absent from rainforests and deserts)
Size: 8 inches (20cm) long; 2 ounces (55g) in weight
Diet: ticks, insects, dead skin, dung, blood, etc.
Threats: unknown
Lifespan: unknown
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Oxpecker SPECIES 0:00
Oxpecker HOSTS 0:50
Oxpecker TICKBIRD 1:41
Oxpecker VAMPIRE BIRD 2:20
Oxpecker DIET 2:53
Oxpecker LIFE CYCLE 3:28
Thanks / Outro 3:53
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Image and Video Credits:
Cephas - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Bernard DUPONT - www.flickr.com/photos/bernied... ; www.flickr.com/photos/bernied... ; flickr.com/photos/berniedup/3... ; flickr.com/photos/berniedup/1... ; flickr.com/photos/berniedup/1... ; flickr.com/photos/berniedup/5... ; flickr.com/photos/berniedup/5...
Derek Keats - www.flickr.com/photos/dkeats/... ; www.flickr.com/photos/dkeats/...
Clint Ralph - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Gerrie van Vuuren - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bu...
Profberger - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
LYBAR - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
tatejoris - • bai ellie+oxpeck ; • ellie-oxpecker
Pascal Vagner - • Piqueboeuf à bec jaune...
ElephantListenProj - • Symbiotic Birds of The...
JaimeLopes - freesound.org/people/JaimeLop...
Francesco Veronsi - www.flickr.com/photos/frances...
Thomas Quine - www.flickr.com/photos/quinet/...
Joseph Mochoge - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...
Research Credits:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/f...
scholarship.miami.edu/esploro...
repository.up.ac.za/handle/22...
miami.pure.elsevier.com/en/pu...
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...
www.sciencedirect.com/science...
www.britannica.com/animal/oxp...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxpecker
#animalfactfiles
#oxpecker
#oxpeckerfacts

[@AnimalFactFiles]

What do you think of the oxpecker? Friend or foe?

[@walterbell1529]

Frienemy

[@penny_the_wiser413]

Maybe a little bit of both?

[@carto4028]

Sounds annoying

[@ntui09]

Friend

[@NightfallShadow]

friend

[@tracybowling1156]

I knew they drank blood. But I didn't realize they were the same birds who ate ticks. It's funny that they'd choose one tick species over others. I think these birds are mutualistic. But can be overbearing at times. Lol

[@AnimalFactFiles]

That's fascinating you knew them for their blood drinking and not the other way! Glad you learned something new on this one 🥰

[@tracybowling1156]

@@AnimalFactFiles You'd be surprised at the amount of wildlife documentaries I watch on YT. I should have been a biologist! Ooooh weeeellll.

[@tonypepperoni3157]

Love these vids! You guys are the best

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thanks so much!

[@levelatete]

I didn't know those birds drink blood ! Thanks for the upload ! Nice job ! Regards from France :)

[@AnimalFactFiles]

So glad you learned something new! Thanks for watching and commenting

[@floccinaucinihilipilification1]

What sounded like an attempt to hold back a little laugh while saying "ox peckers" at the start of the video gave me a good snort-laugh. I can't help myself; I'm 38, going on 6. 😅

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Same 😹

[@paintcandan5972]

the more you learn about birds the weirder they get.

[@mariarios5610]

Oh my gosh cómo aves tan diminutos pueden hacer una tarea grande a los animales qué hermoso 🙏🏻🥺👏👏👏🇨🇱🇩🇪

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

Please do Japanese bullhead shark. They are small brown sharks with tan stripes on their flanks.

[@JackSparrow-re4ql]

We call him The Night Flier...

[@TheBiohazard3179]

Do the 'go away' bird.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Really cool suggestion! Thank you!

[@jadenl629]

could u guys do one on wildebeest? really want to know more about them🙏

[@jadenl629]

thanks!

[@joelymariano9701]

The Bird are blessings from above

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

I love these birds

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Agreed! They're really neat!

[@eunaekim9216]

🐦 + 🐃 = 🤔

[@erstwhilegrubstake]

Reminds me of a Sesame Street song when I was a kid:
Oh can't you see, there's a bird on me
Oh woe is me, there's a bird on me
I'm so durn sick of every feathered friend, oh gee!
Stop your chirping and quack quack quack
Come on birdie get off my back!

[@leedee4968]

Great😀

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Thanks so much!

[@numbuh1507]

Has anyone watched The Rhino and The Redbill pilot?

[@t-rexstudioproductions781]

So is this bird a vampire?

[@TomMannis]

I just like saying oxpecker.

[@l.p.8298]

Tik tok coming through again

[@claudiamariadefatimasales8426]

Ajuda num ponto e atrapalha do outro

[@jadenl629]

i guess oxpeckers are both good and bad to their hosts?🤔 anyways, learned a lot, thanks for the vid!🥰

[@kamaldaud2782]

The beauty of God creation.