8. SHORT NOTES

Stutterheim, C. J. 1980. Moult cycle of the Redbilled Oxpecker in the Kruger National Park. Ostrich 51:107-112.

This paper describes the pattern and rate of the complete moult cycle in the Redbilled Oxpecker Buphagus er ythrorhynchus. The average duration of primary moult in adult birds was 340 days and the mean time to replace a primary feather was calculated as 34 days. The moult of the secondaries is initiated at two points, at the first secondary and at the innermost secondary. Secondary moult takes seven months. The differentiated inner secondaries moult in the normal middle/inner/outer passeriform fashion. The rectrices moulted only once annually. The two body moult cycles correspond with the moult of the differentiated inner secondaries. First-year birds undergo a partial postjuvenile feather replacement at three months of age.