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Burhinus capensis

(Cape Thicknee)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Afrikaans:

Dikkop, Gewone Dikkop

Common Names in Czech:

Dyt

Common Names in Danish:

Plettet Triel

Common Names in Dutch:

Kaapse griel

Common Names in English:

Cape Thicknee, Cape Dikkop, Spotted Dikkop, Spotted Thick-knee

Common Names in Finnish:

Suomupaksujalka

Common Names in French:

Oedicn?me tachard, Oedicn, Oedicnème tachard

Common Names in German:

Kaptriel

Common Names in Italian:

Occhione Del Capo

Common Names in Japanese:

Ke-Puishichidori, Keapuishichidori, ケープイシチドリ

Common Names in Kwangali:

Eswaita

Common Names in Latin:

Burhinus capensis

Common Names in Lithuanian:

Demetasis Storkulnis

Common Names in Norwegian:

Flekktriel

Common Names in Polish:

Kulon Plamisty

Common Names in Portuguese:

Alcarav

Common Names in Shona:

Gwarimutondo

Common Names in Siswant:

Umunkonkoni

Common Names in Slovak:

Le

Common Names in Sotho, Southern:

Khoho-Ea-Lira

Common Names in Spanish:

Alcarav

Common Names in Swahili:

Chekehukwa

Common Names in Swedish:

Fl

Common Names in Tsonga:

Mtshikuyana

Common Names in Tswana:

Kgoadir

Common Names in Xhosa:

Ingqangqolo

Common Names in Zulu:

Umbangaqhwa

Description

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Physical Description

Species Burhinus capensis

The beak is short, plover-like, and colored yellow and brown. The arrow shaped head and part of the back are covered with brownish black streaks. A dark brown streak appears from under the eye to the ear covers and a white streak stretches below the eye to the cheek. White feathers surround the eyes of the bird. The upper parts of the body and wings have brown, white and black splotches. A white bar of plumage separates the wing into sections . Wings are brown and gray, tipped with black and have white edges surrounding them. The underpart and the mid throat of the bird is white, and the breast is light brown with black streaks. It has greenish-gray long legs with three toed feet that are webbed , and resemble a vultures foot . The wedged shaped tail is tipped in black with some white areas on it. Both male and female look similar. As juveniles the birds look like adults except they have gray freckled wing-coverts and a slightly vermiculated tail and upper parts of the body. The special characteristics of this species include large yellow eyes and its long legs. The large yellow eyes are an adaptation to being crepuscular (active at dusk and dawn) and nocturnal (active at night). Burhinidae capensis has long legs that appear to have thick knees coining the phrase Cape Thicknee though, the actual part that looks like a “thicknee” is not the knee but the heel of the foot.

Size/Age/Growth

Burhinidae capensis height is about 34.41cm (17 inches) and weighs about 450 grams (4.5675 oz ). It is 7.2cm (15 in) long and can have a wing span between 200-245 mm (20-24.5in).

Habitat

Likes dry, open country. Its brown, black and white colors blend into its surroundings in the grasslands, semi-deserts and urban areas.

Typically found in a lake at a mean distance from sea level of 1,126 meters (3,694 feet).[1]

Ecology: List of Habitats :

Biology

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Diet

This species is an omnivore . They will feed on a range of foods including but not limited to grass seeds, insects and other invertebrates , small lizards, rodents, snails, crabs and even an occasional frog or two.

Reproduction

These birds have a variable breeding season , though it has been recorded that spring and early summer is the most favorable time for eggs to be laid. The nest is on the ground and is lined with small stones and dry plants . One to three brown and speckled oval-shaped eggs are laid in each clutch . Incubation can last 26-27 days. Both parents will help incubate the egg, though the mother tends to do most of the incubating. This species has a life span of fifteen years.

Behavior

Aggression does not seem to be a dominant trait for these birds. They are very mellow and will only move from their spot if you approach very closely. The males do become aggressive and territorial when they are protecting or defending the young. Burhinus capensis are usually quiet birds during the daytime and quite noisy during the darker hours when they are active . They have several calls , which include “tche-uuu” , “ pi pi pi pipi” , “whee-yu-ee” and sometimes they croak. They are capable of flying but would rather walk. The rare occasion of flying long distance is usually in search of water. When the bird does fly, normally at dusk, its very high up with good rapid wing beats . Burhinus capensis flock with their own kind and tend to be monogamous. The birds rely on their camouflages to protect themselves from predators . The nesting season is generally the most vulnerable time for these birds.

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Burhinus capensis (Lichtenstein, 1823)

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: 17-Oct-2001

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Burhinus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 22 species and subspecies in this genus:

B. bistriatus (Double-Striped Thick Knee) · B. bistriatus bistriatus (Double-Striped Stone-Curlew) · B. capensis (Cape Thicknee) · B. capensis capensis (Spotted Thick-Knee) · B. capensis damarensis (Dahlak Island Thick-Knee) · B. capensis dodsoni (Arabian Thick-Knee) · B. capensis maculosus (Cape Dikkop) · B. grallarius (Bush Stone-Curlew) · B. indicus (Indian Stone Curlew) · B. magnirostris (Beach Thick-Knee) · B. oedicnemus (Eurasian Stone-Curlew) · B. oedicnemus distinctus (Stone Curlew) · B. oedicnemus harterti (Central Eurasian Thick-Knee) · B. oedicnemus insularum (Eastern Canarian Eurasian Thick-Knee) · B. oedicnemus oedicnemus (Eurasian Stone-Curlew) · B. oedicnemus saharae (East Mediterranean Eurasian Thick-Knee) · B. senegalensis (Senegal Stone-Curlew) · B. senegalensis inornatus (North-East African Senegal Thick-Knee) · B. senegalensis senegalensis (Senegal Stone-Curlew) · B. superciliaris (Peruvian Stone-Curlew) · B. vermiculatus (Water Thick-Knee) · B. vermiculatus vermiculatus (Water Thick-Knee)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal November 26, 2007:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Standard Deviation = 474.780 based on 10,726 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/16/2012