| Stone-curlews | ||||||||||
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Bush Stone-curlew. | ||||||||||
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Burhinus Esacus |
The stone-curlews or thick-knees are a group of largely tropical waders in the family Burhinidae. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia.
They are medium to large waders with strong black or yellow black bills, large yellow eyes—which give them a reptilian appearance—and cryptic plumage. The group name refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs and apparently originated with a name coined in 1776 for B. oedicnemus: "Thick-kneed Bustard". Both thick-knee and stone-curlew are in common use, the preference among authorities for one term or the other varying from year to year.
Despite being classed as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. They are largely nocturnal, particulary when singing their loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of Curlews.
Food is insects and other invertebrates. The larger species will also take lizards and even small mammals.
Most species are sedentary, but the Stone Curlew is a summer migrant in the temperate European part of its range, wintering in Africa. The nine species are: