Two Sides to Every Story

BFF or Opportunist?   (Photo by Charles J. Sharp) 

Two red-billed oxpeckers were recently photographed as they plucked ticks off of an impala’s ears.  To the average onlooker, this might have seemed like an ideal case of mutualism.

However, all is not as it seems.  Research suggests that oxpeckers can be picky pluckers.  They might not pursue any old tick, but instead prioritize those filled with mammalian blood. 

If that’s the case, then they’re not doing that impala any favors.  It's already been picked over by these juicy ticks.

Resources

https://www.bing.com/search?q=red-billed+oxpecker&form=hpcapt&filters=HpDate:%2220210828_0700%22

Copyright August 29, 2021 by Linda Van Slyke