There are a variety of opinions on whether oxpeckers are friends or foes, but the answer may depend on the situation. In some cases, oxpeckers can be helpful to their host by eating ticks and other parasites. However, they can also cause problems for their hosts by pecking at open wounds or sores. Overall, it seems that the benefits of having an oxpecker around may outweigh the drawbacks, but it is important to evaluate each case individually.