[citation needed] Its flight is strong and direct, and their call is a hissy crackling trik-quisss.

[3] The red-billed oxpecker nests in tree holes lined with hair plucked from livestock.

The preferred habitat is open country, and the red-billed oxpecker eats insects.

Both the English and scientific names arise from this species' habit of perching on large wild and domesticated mammals such as cattle and eating ticks.

[5] An adult will take nearly 100 blood-engorged female Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) decoloratus ticks, or more than 12,000 larvae in a day.