The Eurasian Stone-Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is a medium-sized bird, which is also known as the Eurasian Thick-Knee. It is related to the Bustard.
The Eurasian Stone-Curlew has black, grey, white, and brown feathers, with a light-grey chest and white underbelly. It has black streaks on its crown and down the back of its long neck. It has a grey beak, large yellow or pale-grey eyes with a white eye-ring, and light-grey legs.
It measures about 80 centimetres (31 inches) tall, with a wingspan of about 76-88 centimetres (30-35 inches).
The Eurasian Stone-Curlew is found across Europe, north Africa, and south-west Asia. It is technically a wader, or a wading bird, but it prefers dry, open areas. It is a ground-dwelling bird.
It is mainly nocturnal, feeding at night. It eats insects, frogs, small lizards, mice, and rats.
The female lays 2-3 eggs in a small hollow on the ground, which hatch after about 25 days.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM