A red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus) perched on the back of a female impala (Aepyceros melampus) in Botswana.
The red-billed oxpecker spends much of its time clinging to large African mammals. It feeds mainly on ticks and other parasites that it picks directly from their skin, gaining a source of food while removing some of these unwanted guests from its hosts. The bird pictured here is perched on the back of a female impala, who seems to be watching it closely.
This association is often described as an example of cooperation between species. However, the relationship is more complex than it first appears: while oxpeckers consume many parasites, they may also feed on blood and wounds, sometimes preventing them from healing. It is an interaction that can be both beneficial and troublesome, illustrating the subtle balances of life in the wild.