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.
识别特征
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.
分类信息
- 学名
- Burhinus vermiculatus
- 命名信息
- (Cabanis, 1868)
- 目
- Charadriiformes
- 科
- Burhinidae
- 属
- Burhinus
分布与栖息地
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).
- 迁徙
- Resident species
行为
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.
保护状况
- 种群趋势
- unknown
照片
分布
鸟叫声
其他鸟类
Pied Currawong
Strepera graculina
Large, black, crow-sized bird with large black bill and yellow eyes. In flight, white rump (most subspecies), undertail, tail tip, and primary bases distinctive. Gray Currawong lacks white rump and has narrow pale trailing edge to wing. Smaller Australian Magpie extensively white in upperparts. Common in woodlands and parks, foraging singly, in pairs, or groups from ground level to treetops. Variably fluting song that may sound a bit like “curr-a-wong.”
Wing-banded Antbird
Myrmornis torquata
Rare and local, but fairly widespread from Honduras to Brazil. It has an unmistakable dumpy shape with a short tail and short legs. Brown above and gray below with richer rusty rump and blackish wings with obvious buffy wingbars. Male has a black throat, orange on female, both bordered by scaly pattern on cheek and neck sides. Note large booked bill. Occurs singly or in pairs on the ground within lowland forest, often in hilly areas. Flips over leaves when foraging. Listen for purring calls and a loud series of whistled notes.
Fulvous Wren
Cinnycerthia fulva
Reddish-brown wren with a faint pale eyebrow found in the understory of humid montane forest. Larger and longer-tailed than the tiny Mountain Wren, which also has a bolder eyebrow. Replaced at the northern end of its range by the very similar Peruvian Wren. Forages singly or in pairs low in bushes and near the ground. Listen for its loud song, a flowing series of whistles and trills.
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