Water Thick-knee
Burhinus vermiculatus
A tall, dome-headed, plover-like bird with large, yellow eyes. Mostly brownish in color, it has a grayish wing panel that is bordered above with a narrow white bar. This thick-knee never wanders far from permanent water. It is crepuscular and nocturnal; early evenings are often punctuated by its distinctive, high-pitched, piping calls that speed up then slow down. The similar Senegal Thick-knee differs by having a gray wing panel bordered above with a black bar only. Spotted Thick-knee lacks the wing panel and has spots rather than streaks on the back.
Identification
The water thick-knee is 38 to 41 cm (15–16 in) and weighs 293–320 g (10.3–11.3 oz). It has a heavy bill that is black with yellow at the base. The wings are broad and blunt and the tail is short.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Burhinus vermiculatus
- Authority
- (Cabanis, 1868)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Burhinidae
- Genus
- Burhinus
Range and habitat
The water thick-knee has a widespread distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, being found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.<p>Across its range it is found on the edges of lakes, estuaries and rivers, as well as mangroves and also some sheltered beaches. It also needs bushes or nearby woodlands for shelter. It is found from sea-level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).
- Migration
- Resident species
Behavior
The water thick-knee is a terrestrial feeder that forages at night. Although it is typically associated with water it can be found foraging up to 1 km (0.62 mi) from water. It feeds on insects, crustaceans and mollusks.<p>The water thick-knee generally breeds in the dry season or early rainy season. It is a monogamous breeder with both parents guarding the nest and brooding the eggs. The nest is a simple scrape in sandy or stony ground, usually close to water. The clutch size is two sandy-yellow eggs. Both sexes incubate the eggs for 22-25 days, and both are responsible for feeding the young. Unique among birds, thick-knee pairs frequently nest adjacent to and sometimes directly on top of Nile crocodile nests. The two species share a form of symbiotic mutualism with the more energetic and vocal thick-knee functioning as loud sentries for the nests as the more powerful crocodile provides protection. Should a nest raider approach, the thick-knee pair will spread their wings in a threat display and harass and peck at the intruders to drive it off. If the pair not be successful, the mother crocodile will be drawn in by their continued calls and arrive.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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