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Bush Stone-curlew

Did you know?

Bush Stone-curlews were formerly found in the fertile, shale-soiled areas of Sydney - the Cumberland Plain - but are now absent and are listed as threatened in New South Wales because of land clearing practices.

Calls
The voice is a characteristic drawn-out, mournful "wer-loooo", often heard at dusk and during the night
Facts and Figures
Research Species: 
No
Minimum Size: 
52cm
Maximum Size: 
58cm
Average size: 
56cm
Breeding season: 
July to January
Clutch Size: 
1 to 3 eggs
Nestling Period: 
50 days
Conservation Status
Federal: 
Secure
NSW: 
Endangered
NT: 
Secure
QLD: 
Secure
SA: 
Rare
TAS: 
Not present
VIC: 
Endangered
WA: 
Secure
Basic Information
Scientific Name: 
Burhinus grallarius
Featured bird groups: 
Birds under threat
Nocturnal Birds
Atlas Number: 
174
What does it look like?
Description: 

The Bush Stone-curlew, or Bush Thick-knee, is a large, slim, mainly nocturnal, ground-dwelling bird. It is mostly grey-brown above, streaked with black and rufous. It is whitish below with clear, vertical black streaks. The bill is small and black, and the eye is large and yellow, with a prominent white eyebrow. Both sexes are similar. Young Bush Stone-curlews are similar in appearance to the adults, but are paler, and a little browner in colour. Bush Stone-curlews are nocturnal birds (night birds), doing all their feeding and other activities at night.

Similar species: 

The Bush Stone-curlew is quite an unusual looking bird, and unlike any other bird found in Australia. The related Beach Stone-curlew, Esacus neglectus, has a much larger bill and more boldly marked face, and has little or no black streaking on the body.

Where does it live?
Distribution: 

The range of the Bush Stone-curlew extends throughout Australia.

What does it do?
Feeding: 

Bush Stone-curlews have a wide-ranging diet, but prefer to feed on insects, molluscs, small lizards, seeds and occasionally small mammals. Feeding takes place at night. During the breeding season, nesting birds will search for food in the vicinity of the nest site, while at other times, birds may travel large distances. All food is taken from the ground.

Breeding: 

Bush Stone-curlews have a remarkable courtship dance. Individuals stand with their wings outstretched, their tail upright and their neck stretched slightly forward. The birds will stamp their feet up and down, like a soldier marking time. This courtship ritual is repeated for an hour or more at a time and is accompanied by loud and constant calling. Eggs are laid in a shallow scrape in the ground and both adults share the incubation and care for the young.

Living with us

The Bush Stone-curlew was formerly quite common, but has declined in numbers through loss of habitat and predation by foxes and feral cats. It can be seen on golf courses and even in cemeteries.

References: 
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia.
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds
The Shorebirds of Australia.
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