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Definition of oxpecker

oxpecker

/ˈɒksˌpɛk.ər/
ox · peck · er
Plural:oxpeckers
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oxpecker Lexical Profile

oxpecker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Either of two species of small African passerine birds in the family Buphagidae that habitually perch on large mammals such as cattle, rhinoceroses, and zebras to feed on ticks, botfly larvae, and other parasites.

Example

"During the safari, we watched a red-billed oxpecker meticulously cleaning insects off the back of a resting hippopotamus."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oxpecker

• Nearby Words

oxidization
oximeter
oxnard
oxpecker
oxtail
oxus
oxy

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century from 'ox' + 'pecker', referring to the bird's characteristic behavior of perching on livestock and wild ungulates to peck at parasites.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oxpecker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oxpecker
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