Burhinus vermiculatus
The Water Thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus) is a medium-sized, strikingly camouflaged shorebird, characterized by its cryptic streaky brown-grey upperparts and clean white underparts, with a distinct dark carpal patch visible in flight. Averaging 38-41 cm (15-16 inches) in length and weighing 290-320 g (10-11 oz), it possesses large, luminous yellow eyes, a short yellow bill tipped with black, and long greenish-yellow legs featuring the prominent, 'thickened' intertarsal joint that gives the...
Primarily inhabits freshwater wetlands, riverbanks, lake shores, estuaries, and damp woodlands, always in close proximity to water bodies. Typically found at low elevations, though occasionally up to 1,800m in East Africa.
Feeds primarily on a variety of invertebrates including insects (beetles, grasshoppers), mollusks, and crustaceans. It also occasionally consumes small vertebrates like frogs, reptiles, and fish, typically foraging by walking slowly and lunging.
Largely nocturnal and crepuscular, the Water Thick-knee spends its days resting quietly in the shade or amidst vegetation, relying on its cryptic plumage. Foraging involves slow, deliberate walks, interspersed with pauses, followed by quick lunges to seize prey. Pairs are monogamous and highly te...
The Water Thick-knee is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting a broad band from Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia in West Africa, eastward through the Sahel and Central African Republic, stretching to Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania in East Africa. Its range extends southw...
Least Concern
- The 'thick-knee' in its name refers to the prominent joint on its long legs, which is actually its ankle, not its knee. - Their large, luminous yellow eyes are specially adapted for excellent vision in low-light conditions, reflecting their nocturnal habits. - The eerie, wailing calls of the Wa...