Yellow-billed maggot chopper

Yellow-billed maggot chopper
	Yellow-billed maggot chopper
Systematics
Order :	Passerines (Passeriformes)
Subordination :	Songbirds (passeri)
Superfamily :	Muscicapoidea
Family :	Maggot chopper (Buphagidae)
Genre :	Maggot Chopper ( Buphagus )
Type :	Yellow-billed maggot chopper
Scientific name
	Buphagus africanus
	Linnaeus , 1766

The yellow-billed maggot chopper ( Buphagus africanus ) is a species of bird in the family of maggot chopper (Buphagidae). It occurs in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal in the west to Sudan. In the extreme east of its range, where it overlaps with that of the red-billed maggot chopper , it is a relatively rare species.

Appearance

The yellow-billed maggot chopper reaches a body length between 19 and 22 centimeters. It weighs between 55 and 70 grams. The name-giving strong beak is yellow with a strong red tip. The eyes are red and stand out strikingly against the dark plumage of the head. The upper side of the body is dark gray-brown and lightens to a light beige towards the rump. The upper breast is light gray-brown. The belly is ocher.

behavior

Distribution area of the yellow-billed maggot chopper ( Buphagus africanus )

Yellow-billed maggot chopper mainly eats insects as well as ticks and other skin parasites of large mammals. It also eats wound tissue and blood from its host animals and prevents wounds from closing early. The bond with the host animals is very strong. During the day, they are often seen on the back or neck of cows, buffalo, giraffes, antelopes or zebras. Non-breeding yellow-billed maggot hackers often spend the night on the back of a large mammal. The clutch consists of two to three eggs. The yellow-billed maggot chopper is a cave breeder. The nest cavity is padded with animal hair. Outside of the breeding season, they can form loose swarms. The call is a hoarse kriss kriss .

supporting documents

Individual evidence

^ Burnie, p. 433

literature

David Burnie (Ed.): Vögel , Munich 2008, Dorling Kindersley, ISBN 978-3-8310-1272-5

Web links

Commons : Yellow-billed maggot chopper ( Buphagus africanus ) - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Buphagus africanus onthe IUCN Red List of Threatened Species .
Videos, photos and sound recordings of Buphagus africanus in the Internet Bird Collection

[1] Burnie, p. 433