oxpecker

noun

ox·​peck·​er ˈäks-ˌpe-kər How to pronounce oxpecker (audio)
: either of two small dull-colored African birds (Buphagus erythrorhynchus and B. africanus) of the starling family that feed on ticks which they pick from the backs of infested cattle and wild mammals

Examples of oxpecker in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The oxpecker may cause further harm by opening the wounds and drinking the blood, a behavior that has earned them a reputation for being parasitic. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025 Despite the negative connotations of their blood-feeding behavior, oxpeckers are also known to offer a beneficial service to their mammalian hosts by removing parasites. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oxpecker was in 1837

Rhymes for oxpecker

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oxo process
oxpecker
ox ray
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Cite this Entry

“Oxpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxpecker. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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