Stone-curlew facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stone-curlews Temporal range: Late Oligocene–Present PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Bush stone-curlew, Burhinus grallarius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Suborder:	Chionidi
Family:	Burhinidae Mathews, 1912
Genera
Hesperoburhinus Burhinus Esacus †Genucrassum
modern range

The stone-curlews are a group of birds also known as dikkops or thick-knees. There are 10 different types, or species, in their family called Burhinidae. You can find these birds in warm, tropical places and also in cooler, temperate parts of the world. They live in many areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Even though stone-curlews are classified as "waders" (birds that usually live near water), most of them actually prefer dry or semi-dry places.

What Are Stone-Curlews?

Stone-curlews are medium to large-sized birds. They have strong bills that can be black or yellow and black. One of their most noticeable features is their large, yellow eyes, which can make them look a bit like reptiles! Their feathers have patterns that help them blend in with their surroundings, making them hard to spot.

Why Are They Called Thick-knees?

The name "thick-knee" comes from the way their long, yellow or greenish legs look. They have very noticeable joints that look like thick knees. However, what looks like a knee is actually their ankle! The name "stone-curlew" comes from their general similarity to another group of birds called "true curlews."

Where Do Stone-Curlews Come From?

The family of stone-curlews, Burhinidae, was first named in 1912 by an Australian bird expert named Gregory Mathews. This family includes three main groups, or genera: Hesperoburhinus, Burhinus, and Esacus.

The name Burhinus is a mix of two old Greek words: bous, meaning "ox," and rhis (or rhinos), meaning "nose" or "bill." This might refer to their strong bills. It's important to know that stone-curlews are not closely related to the "true curlews" that belong to the sandpiper family.

Stone-Curlew Behavior

Stone-curlews are mostly active at night. This is especially true when they sing their loud, wailing songs. These songs can sound a lot like the calls of true curlews.

What Do Stone-Curlews Eat?

Their main food is insects and other small creatures without backbones, like worms. Larger types of stone-curlews might also eat lizards and even small mammals.

Migration Habits

Most stone-curlew species stay in one place all year. However, the Eurasian stone-curlew is different. It travels, or migrates, during the summer from its home in Europe to warmer places in Africa for the winter.

Types of Stone-Curlews

The oldest known stone-curlew fossil is called Genucrassum bransatensis. It was found in France and dates back to the Late Oligocene period. Here are the living species of stone-curlews:

Picture	Name	Binomial name
	Double-striped thick-knee	Hesperoburhinus bistriatus
	Peruvian thick-knee	Hesperoburhinus superciliaris
	Eurasian stone-curlew	Burhinus oedicnemus
	Indian stone-curlew	Burhinus indicus
	Senegal thick-knee	Burhinus senegalensis
	Water thick-knee	Burhinus vermiculatus
	Spotted thick-knee	Burhinus capensis
	Bush stone-curlew	Burhinus grallarius (formerly B. magnirostris).
	Great stone-curlew	Esacus recurvirostris
	Beach stone-curlew	Esacus magnirostris