Teamwork in the Wild: The Wattled Starling and the Wildebeest

A Wattled Starling perches on the back of a wildebeest in the African savanna, demonstrating mutualism.

In the vast landscapes of the African savanna, few sights are as charming as the Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) hitching a ride on the back of a wildebeest.

The starling pictured here lacks the distinctive black and yellow facial markings of a breeding male, suggesting it may be a non-breeding male or a female. Regardless of its status, this bird is on a mission.

The Science of a Free Ride

Starlings hang out with their "big friends" for one primary reason: food. As a wildebeest moves through the grass, its massive weight stirs up clouds of insects. Additionally, the wildebeest’s tough hide is often home to ectoparasites—such as ticks, mites, or fly larvae—which are a prized delicacy for the bird.

In exchange for a mobile buffet, the starling provides a cleaning service, removing pests that would otherwise irritate or harm the host.

Mutualistic Symbiosis: Why We Work Better in Teams

This relationship is a textbook example of mutualistic symbiosis, where both species benefit from the interaction. It’s a natural "win-win."

Beyond the biology, there is a proverbial lesson here. Just like the bird and the beast, we often find our greatest success when we lean into our unique roles to help one another. It’s a reminder of why we work better in teams:

• Shared Goals: Both parties get what they need.

• Unique Strengths: The wildebeest provides the platform; the starling provides the precision.

• Efficiency: They accomplish more together than they ever could alone.

Either way, this bird is hungry, ready to help, and proof that teamwork is wired into the system.

Reminds me of Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV): “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”

Wait! Here’s a thought

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Wildebeests of the Ngorongoro Crater: Why they Never Leave

A herd of wildebeests loitering on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

While their cousins are famous for the Great Migration circuit, the wildebeests of the Ngorongoro Crater have a different strategy: they never leave.

A Resident Population

Unlike the massive herds that trek between Tanzania and Kenya, the crater is home to a resident population of roughly 7,000 to 10,000 wildebeests. Because the crater floor offers permanent water sources and lush, nutrient-rich volcanic soil year-round, these Gnus have no reason to risk the treacherous journey across crocodile-infested rivers.

Life in a “Fishbowl”

Living inside the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera is like living in a natural amphitheater. The 2,000-foot-high walls create a self-contained ecosystem where survival is a daily drama.

• The “Gnu” Chorus: The distinctive low grunting or "Gnu-ing" of thousands of wildebeests is the constant soundtrack of the crater floor.

• Dense Predator Presence: Because the prey stays put, so do the predators. The crater has one of the highest densities of lions and spotted hyenas in Africa, meaning the wildebeests are always under a watchful eye.

The "Overspill" Guest Stars

While the crater has its own permanent residents, it does get visitors. During the calving season (January to March), hundreds of thousands of migratory wildebeests mass on the nearby Ndutu plains just outside the crater to give birth. Occasionally, some of these migratory herds "overspill" into the crater itself, briefly swelling the local population before heading north again.

Nature’s Landscapers

Wildebeests are essential to the crater’s health. By grazing the tall grass down, they make the landscape suitable for other species like zebras and gazelles. Their movement also helps circulate nutrients back into the soil, keeping the “Garden of Eden” green and vibrant.

Bestie Beasties

We usually think of the wildebeest (gnu) in the context of "the Great Migration" of the Serengeti. However, mixed in these traveling mega-herds are many other species, including zebras.

The relationship between the wildebeest and the zebra is most interesting. These two animals crop grasses differently, so their grazing is complementary. They also perceive their world differently (helpful for avoiding predators!); the wildebeest's keen sense of smell complements the zebra's keen senses of sight and sound.

Working together, these animals do better than working alone. There's a sermon in there somewhere.

On the trail of the Great Migration

The stream of wildebeests and zebras flowed north toward the Kenyan border. We followed it.

Symbiosis

Zebra, wildebeest, and insects. Ngorongoro crater, Tanzania.