Definition

A type of small bird found in Africa that eats ticks and other parasites from the skin of large animals like cattle and wild mammals.

Example

The oxpecker perched on the back of the buffalo, picking off ticks and keeping the animal clean.

Conversation

Did you know that there’s a bird called the oxpecker that eats ticks off of animals?

Really? That sounds interesting!

Yeah, they usually hang out on cattle and other big mammals.

That’s so cool! Nature has some amazing partnerships.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Oxpecker** → The word is formed from "ox" (from Old English *oxa*, meaning a large domesticated bovine) and "pecker" (from the verb "to peck", meaning to strike or hit with a beak). An oxpecker is a bird that pecks at the skin of large mammals, particularly oxen, to feed on parasites.

Memory Tip

Think of an 'ox' as a large animal and 'pecker' as a bird that strikes or hits. This helps you remember that an oxpecker is a bird that feeds on the skin of oxen.

Visually Confused Words