Stone Curlews
Waders
The Stone Curlew or Eurasian Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus is a northern species of the Burhinidae (stone-curlew) bird family.
Description
It is a medium-sized wader with a strong yellow and black beak, large yellow eyes (which give it a "reptilian", or "goggle-eyed" appearance), and cryptic plumage.
The scientific name refers to the prominent joints in the long yellow or greenish legs. The bird is striking in flight, with black and white wing markings.
It is largely nocturnal, particularly when singing its loud wailing songs, which are reminiscent of that of curlews (possibly the cause of the name).
Diet / Feeding
Food consists of insects and other small invertebrates. It will also take small reptiles and rodents.
Breeding / Nesting
It lays 2-3 eggs in a narrow scrape in the ground.
Distribution / Range
The stone curlew occurs throughout Europe, north Africa and southwestern Asia. It is a summer migrant in the more temperate European and Asian parts of its range, wintering in Africa.
Despite being classed as a wader, this species has a preference for dry open habitats with some bare ground.
Song / Vocalizations
In Egypt, the melodic song of the stone curlew is often heard at night, although the bird is almost never seen. Its song is featured in poetry, songs, and movies, such as Song of the Stone Curlew.
Subspecies
Actually are known six subspecies from Burhinus oedicnemus:
- Burhinus oedicnemus distinctus (Bannerman, 1914) Canary Islands central and western
- Burhinus oedicnemus harterti Vaurie, 1963
- Burhinus oedicnemus indicus - commonly known as Indian Stone Curlew (Salvadori, 1865)
- Burhinus oedicnemus insularum (Sassi, 1908) Canary Islands, eastern
- Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Burhinus oedicnemus saharae (Reichenow, 1894)
References
Aves y plantas de Fuerteventura en peligro de extinción. FaunAbh26:63.
- BirdLife International (2004). Burhinus oedicnemus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Birds of the World -- current valid scientific avian names.
- Datos recientes sobre el Alcaraván (Burhinus oedicnemus L. 1758) en la Isla de La Palma (Canarias): notas Recent data on the Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) on La Palma (Canary Islands): notes Autores: Rubén Barone Tosco, Felipe Siverio, D. Trujillo Localización: Vieraea: Folia scientarum biologicarum canariensium, ISSN 0210-945X, Nº. 21, 1992 , pag. [168]
- Datos recientes sobre el Alcaraván (Burhinus oedicnemus L. 1758) en la Isla de La Palma (Canarias): notas Recent data on the Stone Curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) on La Palma (Canary Islands): notes Autores: Rubén Barone Tosco, Felipe Siverio, D. Trujillo Localización: Vieraea: Folia scientarum biologicarum canariensium, ISSN 0210-945X, Nº. 21, 1992 , pag. 168
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