Stone-Curlews

Stone-curlews, also called Thick-knees, are medium to large shorebirds that live in warm, tropical areas. Although related to plovers and avocets, these birds prefer to live and hunt on dry land. They have strong black or yellow black bills, and large yellow eyes.

There are nine species, including Stone Curlew, Bush Stone-curlew, Beach Stone-curlew, Great Thick-knee, Senegal Thick-knee, Double-striped Thick-knee, Peruvian Thick-knee, Water Dikkop, and Spotted Dikkop.

These birds are named for their songs, which sound like curlews and for their large knee joints. Hunting at night, they eat insects and other invertebrates. Larger birds also eat crustaceans and small lizards.