Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus
The Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is a uncommon thick-knees and stone-curlew found in 64 countries, weighing about 459 g. The Eurasian stone-curlew, Eurasian thick-knee, or simply stone-curlew is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family.










About the Eurasian Stone-curlew
The Eurasian stone-curlew, Eurasian thick-knee, or simply stone-curlew is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The Eurasian stone-curlew is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized by the standards of its family. Length ranges from 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in), wingspan from 76 to 88 cm (30 to 35 in) and weight from 290 to 535 g (10.2 to 18.9 oz). with a strong yellow and black beak, large yellow eyes (which give it a "reptilian", or "goggle-eyed" appearance), and cryptic plumage. The bird is striking in flight, with black and white wing markings.
What the Eurasian Stone-curlew sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Netherlands, Finland, India, Sudan.
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in May. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Eurasian Stone-curlew?
- The Eurasian stone-curlew is a fairly large wader, though mid-sized by the standards of its family. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Eurasian Stone-curlew?
- The Eurasian Stone-curlew is a large sized bird weighing about 459 g.
- Where can you see a Eurasian Stone-curlew?
- The Eurasian Stone-curlew occurs in 64 countries, including France, Spain, Israel, Portugal and the United Kingdom.
- What does a Eurasian Stone-curlew sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Eurasian Stone-curlew on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Eurasian Stone-curlew?
- The Eurasian Stone-curlew is most easily confused with the Spotted Thick-knee, the Water Thick-knee and the Bush Stone-curlew.
- Is the Eurasian Stone-curlew endangered?
- The Eurasian Stone-curlew is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Eurasian Stone-curlew for real
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