Impact of Individual Host Characteristics on Host Selection in Oxpeckers

Abstract

Symbiotic interactions between oxpeckers (Buphagus spp.) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) are influenced by both host characteristics and ectoparasite load. This study investigates how individual traits, such as body size, age and tick load, impact oxpecker foraging decisions. To investigate what impacts whether or not oxpeckers choose to forage on a buffalo, we used candidate generalised linear models. Our results show that oxpeckers preferentially select larger buffalo with higher-than-expected tick loads, particularly in the perianal region. These findings highlight the role of host size and parasite abundance in shaping oxpecker foraging behaviour within the savannah ecosystem.