img

Indian Thick-knee

Conservation status

Least Concern

Population Trend

Decreasing

Alternate Names

Indian Stone-curlew

Native Habitat

Dry Deciduous Forests

Diet

Insects, Worms, Small Reptiles

img

Indian Thick-knee

Burhinus indicus

Indian Thick-knee is a stocky and brown ground bird with large eyes. It has dark streaks on a sandy brown ground colour and is plover-like. The large head has a dark stripe bordering a creamy moustachial stripe below the eye. There is also a narrow creamy supercilium. The legs are stout and the knees are thick, giving them the group of name of "thick-knee". They have large yellow eyes. The sexes are alike and the immature is paler than adult with more marked buff and streaks on the underparts. In flight, they have two prominent white and a white patch on the darker primaries and at rest a broad pale band is visible on the wing. They are found in small groups and during the day, they are found standing still under the shade of bush.

Regional Names
  • Malayalam:
    വയൽക്കണ്ണൻ
  • Marathi:
    भारतीय करवानक
  • Nepali:
    बगरबट्टाई
Media Gallery
Taxanomy

CHARADRIIFORMES
BURHINIDAE
Burhinus indicus

Quick Facts
  • It is active mainly at dawn and dusk and it calls mainly at night.