African bird related to the starling Crossword Clue

A warm welcome to all crossword lovers!
Its time to solve "African bird related to the starling" crossword clue for today's "Wall Street Journal" daily crossword.

Understanding Today's Crossword Puzzle

The clue for today's crossword puzzle is "African bird related to the starling" and the answer is "OXPECKER". Let's explore why this clue has this answer:

1. The clue describes the bird as being "African", which narrows down the possibilities to birds native to Africa.
2. The clue further specifies that the bird is "related to the starling". This indicates that the bird we are looking for is closely related to starlings, a family of passerine birds known for their ability to mimic sounds.
3. One African bird that fits this description is the Oxpecker. Oxpeckers belong to the family Buphagidae, which is part of the starling order. They are commonly found in sub-Saharan Africa.
4. Oxpeckers have a distinct appearance with a stout bill, sharp claws, and a red or yellow bill. They are known for their symbiotic relationship with large mammals, such as rhinos and buffalos, as they feed on ticks and other parasites that live on the mammals' bodies.
5. The answer "OXPECKER" perfectly matches the clue, as Oxpeckers are African birds closely related to the starling family.

In conclusion, the answer for today's crossword clue "African bird related to the starling" is "OXPECKER". This bird is native to Africa, belongs to the starling family, and forms a beneficial relationship with large mammals. Remember, crosswords challenge our analytical skills and provide entertainment as we uncover the connection between clues and their answers.

Definition of "OXPECKER"

a brown African bird related to the starlings, feeding on parasites that infest the skins of large grazing mammals.

 The Crossword clue "African bird related to the starling" published 1 time/s & has 1 answer/s. 

Crossword	Date	Answer
Wall Street Journal	23 April 2010	OXPECKER