Tickbirds, also known as oxpeckers, are birds that appear in the The Lion Guard universe. They live in the Pride Lands and the Back Lands.
Appearance
The tickbirds shown in The Lion Guard are red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers. They have brown upper parts and pale brown underparts. They have long tail feathers and strong feet with three toes pointing forward and one pointing backward.
Information
In the Real World
Tickbirds inhabit the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. Being rather gregarious birds, they live in flocks. They are usually tolerated by mammals because they eat the ticks and insects off of them, but they will also peck at the animal's wounds for blood. They use pecking motions to nab insects from the fur of short-coated animals. The females lay two-three eggs, which are white or cream in color, at a time.
In The Lion Guard
Tickbirds are known to have a rhinoceros companion. They will follow this friend anywhere, and feed off the insects from their back while guiding them to their next destination.