This Tiny Bird Protects Crocodile Eggs and Gets Protection in Return

There are plenty of examples of mutualism in nature. Be it the rhinosaurus and the oxpecker, clownfish and sea anemones, or sharks and remora fish, there are unlikely besties in the wild that work together because the outcome is beneficial to both species.

Some duos may not seem to make sense at first glance. Given how deadly crocodiles are, it would seem they would not have any allies in the animal kingdom. However, a small bird has become just that, putting its life on the line to protect the massive reptile, which in turn protects the bird and its nest from predators.

Dikkops Place Their Nest Near Nile Crocodiles For Protection

Dikkops have been nicknamed the “bravest bird in the world.” This is related to where birds choose to nest in the grasslands and savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. The dikkop does not have a nest up in a tree away from ground predators. Consequently, the small bird and its eggs make for an easy meal in theory for predators. Choosing to make a nest, or really, just a shallow spot encircled by grasses or spotty twigs, has come up with a way to defend its nest while incubating eggs.

To defend the nest, the dikkop finds a location near where a Nile crocodile has their nest. Being in such close proximity to the crocodile, predators think twice about invading the dikkop nest, as they do not want to become prey to the massive crocodile. The Nile crocodile is happy to leave the dikkop and the dikkop nest alone. Therefore, the dikkop nest is protected from most predators. This protection does not extend away from the nest, as there are natural predators that the adult dikkop has. Those include:

• Tawny eagle
• Verreauxs’ eagle
• Spotted eagle-owl

However, the one to three broods hatched during the egg-laying season have the best chance of survival because of their proximity to the Nile crocodile. The relationship is mutualistic: not only is the dikkop protected by the Nile crocodile, but the dikkop also protects the crocodile’s nest.

Dikkops Protect Nile Crocodile Nests From Predators

It may seem hard to believe that a small bird could protect a Nile crocodile from danger. But that is exactly what the dikkop does, proving the old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Like dikkops, Nile crocodiles build their nests near the water. Unlike the dikkop, the crocodiles will cover their nests. This helps to both incubate the eggs and keep them safe from predators. But there are times when the female Nile crocodile will have to leave the nest. When this happens, the nest is unprotected, and all it takes is an intelligent predator to dig up the eggs and make a meal out of them.

During the time when the Nile crocodile vacates the nest, the dikkop will pay close attention to the area.
If any predators attempt to dig up the nest, the dikkop will defend it. BBC One captured the mutualistic relationship between the dikkop and Nile crocodile on camera. This occurred when a monitor lizard spotted an opportunity to make what it thought would be an easy snack after the Nile crocodile left its nest. The monitor lizard quickly began to dig up the crocodile eggs shortly after the Nile crocodile headed to the water. But before it could cause any damage, the female dikkop came running over, scaring the lizard away from the nest.

Not wanting to leave his mate alone, the male dikkop came over to defend the crocodile eggs as well. However, as the dikkops and monitor lizards moved away from the Nile crocodile nest, they got dangerously closer to the dikkop nest. This led to the female dikkop returning to defend her nest, while the male had a standoff with the monitor lizard.

To put an end to the standoff, the dikkops called out, and the Nile crocodile responded by quickly returning to her nest. This scared the monitor lizard out of the area, and both the dikkop and the Nile crocodile sustained zero loss of eggs by working together against a common enemy. While the dikkop will defend a Nile crocodile nest from predators, it does not defend the nests of any other species, making this relationship truly unique.

Dikkops Return To The Same Nesting Spot Annually

Dikkops tend to return to the same places each year during nesting season. Not only is this familiar to the monogamous dikkop couple, but—likely not coincidentally—Nile crocodiles also tend to return to the same nesting spots annually. It makes sense that both creatures would come back to the same spots to lay their eggs, knowing they have an ally in one another. Without the Nile crocodile, the dikkop nest would make for an easy target for any ground-dwelling predators. Given that such a small percentage of baby Nile crocodiles make it to the first year of life, the crocodiles need as much assistance as possible, even getting to the point of hatching.

While it is an unlikely pairing, the dikkop and the Nile crocodile have found that by working together, they make a formidable team. They are such a dynamic duo that predators are likely to think twice before attempting to steal eggs from either nest, recognizing that the risks outweigh the potential reward.