Bush stone-curlew

Bush stone-curlew
Adult at Cairns, northern Queensland
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Burhinidae
Genus: Burhinus
Species:
B. grallarius
Binomial name
Burhinus grallarius
(Latham, 1801)
  range
Synonyms

Charadius grallarius Latham, 1801 Burhinus magnirostris (Latham, 1801)

The bush stone-curlew or bush thick-knee (Burhinus grallarius, obsolete name Burhinus magnirostris) is a large, ground-dwelling bird endemic to Australia. Its favoured habitat is open plains and woodlands, where it stalks slowly at night in search of invertebrates such as insects. Its grey-brown coloration is distinguished by dark streaks, its eyes are large and legs are long. It is capable of flight, but relies on the camouflage of its plumage to evade detection during the day; the bush curlew adopts a rigid posture when it becomes aware of an observer. Both sexes care for two eggs laid on the bare ground, usually sited near bush in a shaded position or next to a fallen branch.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Burhinus grallarius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22693600A93415183. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693600A93415183.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.