Alternative name: Eurasian Stone-curlew
- Burhinus oedicnemus
Identification
40–44 cm (15¾-17¼ in)
- Plumage sandy-brown, streaked darker
- Black and white markings on the wings
- Black-tipped yellow bill
- Large yellow iris
- Prominent joints in long yellow or green legs
Distribution
Western Palearctic, tropical north Africa and Asia.
Taxonomy
Subspecies
There are 5 subspecies[1]:
- B. o. distinctus:
- Western Canary Islands
- B. o. insularum:
- Eastern Canary Islands
- B. o. saharae:
- B. o. oedicnemus:
- Southern Britain and Iberian Peninsula to northern Balkans and Caucasus
- B. o. harterti:
Indian Thick-knee was formerly considered a subspecies of this species.
Habitat
Breeds on dry sparsely vegetated open ground. On migration may be seen on sea coasts.
Behaviour
Mostly nocturnal. Outside the breeding season they can gather in large flocks.
Diet
The diet includes insects, small invertebrates and lizards.
Breeding
The nest is a bare ground scrape. Two, maybe 3 eggs are laid. They are heavily blotched and streaked with brownish markings on a buff background.
Vocalisation
Call: a Eurasian Curlew-like coo-lee
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Wikipedia
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
- Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0 00 219728 6
- The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs 0723200602
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Eurasian Thick-knee. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Eurasian_Thick-knee
External Links
Search the Gallery using the scientific name:
Search the Gallery using Eurasian Thick-knee:
Search the Gallery using Eurasian Stone-curlew:
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.
