1. plural of oxpecker; small African birds that feed on parasites, ticks, and insects found on the skin and fur of large mammals such as cattle, zebras, and rhinoceroses.
Usage: Usually used in plural form; Also called tick birds

Examples

• Oxpeckers perch on the backs of zebras to eat parasites and insects.
• The rhinoceros benefits from oxpeckers that remove ticks from its thick skin.
• Oxpeckers are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
• A herd of cattle attracted several oxpeckers looking for food.
• Oxpeckers have a symbiotic relationship with large grazing animals.