Taking a closer look

Location: ZOO, Warsaw, Poland
Specie: Stone Curlew

The Stone-curlews, also known as Dikkops or Thick-knees are a group of largely tropical birds in the family Burhinidae. Despite the group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semi-arid habitats. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone, with some species also breeding in temperate Europe and Australia.

They are medium to large birds with strong black or yellow black bills, large yellow eyes—which give them a reptilian appearance—and cryptic plumage. The names Thick-knee and Stone-curlew are both in common use, the preference among authorities for one term or the other varying from year to year. The term Stone-curlew owes its origin to the broad similarities with true curlews (which are not closely related).

They are largely nocturnal, particularly when singing their loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of true curlews. The diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Larger species will also take lizards and even small mammals.

Copyright © by Dominika Anioła

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• Submitted:Jul 24th
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• Date Created:Jul 17th, 2012
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• CCDWidth:2mm
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• Focal Length:200mm
• ISO Speed:800
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