About Burhinus capensis (M.H.K.Lichtenstein, 1823)
Nomenclature and Size
The spotted thick-knee, with the scientific name Burhinus capensis, can reach a maximum height of 45.5 cm (17.9 in).
Plumage and Camouflage
It has long legs, and brown-and-white speckled plumage that acts as camouflage, making the bird hard to spot in the grasslands and savannas it inhabits.
Head and Beak Morphology
It has a large, round head, a prominent yellow eye, and a short, stout beak.
Wing Pattern Display
When it is in flight, or standing in a characteristic position with its wings raised, it displays a striking contrasting pattern.
Leg Morphology and Common Name Origin
Its legs are long and yellow, and its tibiotarsal joint is expanded; this expansion gives the species the common name "thick-knee".
Native Habitat
The spotted thick-knee is native to the grasslands and savannas of sub-Saharan Africa.
African Range
Its range extends from Senegal, Mali and Mauritania in the west, east to Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania, and south to South Africa.
West Asian Range
It can also be found in south Yemen in West Asia.
