Stone Curlew
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 Stone Curlew
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| Burhinus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Stone Curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus is the northern representative of the Stone-curlews, waders in the family Burhinidae.
They are medium-large waders with strong black and yellow black bills, large yellow eyes, which give them a "reptilian" appearance, and cryptic plumage. The scientific name refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs.
It is striking in flight, with black and white wing markings.
Despite being classed as a wader, this species has a preference for dry open habitats with some bare ground. They are largely nocturnal, particularly when singing their loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of Curlews.
Food is insects and other invertebrates. It will also take lizards. It lays 2-3 eggs on the ground.
The Stone Curlew occurs in southern Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia. It is a summer migrant in the temperate European and Asian parts of its range, wintering in Africa.
For the group of birds known as thick-knees or stone-curlews (of which this species is a member) see stone-curlew.
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[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Burhinus oedicnemus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
