The red-billed oxpecker, called “Askari wa kifaru” or the rhino's guard in Swahili, alerts black rhinos to nearby humans and may have developed the behavior to protect food sources existing on rhinos’ ...

In the Swahili language, the red-billed oxpecker bird is called Askari wa kifaru, which translates to "the rhino's guard." Scientists have now figured out exactly how the bird stands guard — ...

Red-billed oxpeckers hitching rides on the backs of black rhinos are a common sight in the African bush. The birds are best known for feeding from lesions full of ticks or other parasites on a rhino’s ...

If you’re a rhino of any kind, then you’d probably always want to keep your distance from humans. Rhinos have a long history of being prime targets for animal poaching because of their valuable facial ...

Ticks, leeches, mosquitoes, vampire bats—when it comes to creatures that live by the vein, these are the usual suspects. But what if I told you there was a little blood-slurping birdy more diabolical ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Rhinos are massive, gorgeous, creatures with very few natural ...

In Swahili, red-billed oxpeckers are called Askari wa kifaru, or "the rhino's guard." Now, a paper appearing April 9 in the journal Current Biology suggests that this indigenous name rings true: ...

In Swahili, red-billed oxpeckers are called Askari wa kifaru, or 'the rhino's guard.' Now, an article suggests that this indigenous name rings true: red-billed oxpeckers may behave like sentinels, ...