Bush Stone Curlews

By Mike • October 4, 2009 • 5 comments

Last month, our Australian correspondent Shane Martin contributed a striking gallery of Galahs goofing around in Brisbane. Now, Shane shines a spotlight on the species Aussie locals call thick-knees but proper bird watchers identify as Bush Stone Curlews…

According to Shane, these stone curlews blend into the background rather well. They also stay still when people are close. Consequently, most folks just walk by without spotting them.

Bush Stone Curlews are mostly nocturnal, which explains the closed eyes in the photo above. The next shot should clear up where the nickname “thick-knee” comes from.

In fact, Bush Stone Curlews (Burhinus grallarius) belong to the family Burhinidae, which includes various and sundry Stone-curlews and Thick-knees around the world. Note that the Stone Curlew is not a true curlew like the birds in the genus Numenius.

Shane notes that their loud calls at night sound more like women screaming than melodious birds. Then again, these are shorebirds, not songbirds!

Many thanks, Shane, for these gorgeous photos and the permission to share them!

Tags: australia, features, shorebirds, stone curlews

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About the Author

Mike

Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but what he really aspires to be is a naturalist. Besides founding 10,000 Birds and I and the Bird, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining sites and resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network.

5 Responses to “Bush Stone Curlews”

Eileen Oct 4th, 2009 at 9:30 am

Wonderfuls photos and info on the Bush Stone Curlew. Most likely it will be a bird I will never see so thanks Shane for sharing.
Nick Oct 4th, 2009 at 11:26 am

The feather patterns in that last shot… fantastic! I love this family.

Mike, Mike, Mike… at first I thought you were Charlie what with the Old World bias… they’re called Thick-knees here in the New World too!
Twitter Trackbacks for Bush Stone Curlews [10000birds.com] on Topsy.com Oct 4th, 2009 at 6:59 pm

[...] Bush Stone Curlews 10000birds.com/bush-stone-curlews.htm – view page – cached Last month, our Australian correspondent Shane Martin contributed a striking gallery of Galahs goofing around in Brisbane. Now, Shane shines a spotlight on the species Aussie locals call thick-knees… (Read more)Last month, our Australian correspondent Shane Martin contributed a striking gallery of Galahs goofing around in Brisbane. Now, Shane shines a spotlight on the species Aussie locals call thick-knees but proper bird watchers identify as Bush Stone Curlews… (Read less) — From the page [...]
Mike Oct 4th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

Nick, I know that birds of this genus are called thick-knees all over the world. My point is that this particular thick-knee’s proper name is Bush Stone Curlew! Believe me, I’m New World all the way.
Jochen Oct 5th, 2009 at 8:33 am

Oh, my mistake: I assumed the species would now be called Obama Stone Curlew in the New World. How stupid of me.

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