A nocturnal wading bird found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, especially near rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands. Despite being called a “thick-knee,” the name refers not to a swollen joint but to the prominent, thick-looking joint on the leg, which helps this bird stand tall and still for long periods. With its cryptic coloring, large yellow eyes, and unusual behaviors, the water thick-knee is a fascinating part of Africa’s watery landscapes.
This bird has mottled brown and gray plumage with fine vermiculated (wavy) patterns that help it blend into sandy or pebbled shores. The large yellow eyes stand out and are an adaptation for its mostly nocturnal lifestyle, allowing it to hunt and navigate effectively in low light.
Unlike storks or herons, the water thick-knee is more likely to be seen on the ground, moving with quick steps or standing motionless in the open. It is named for its distinctive leg structure, and while it can fly well, it prefers to stay grounded, especially near water edges where it forages. It feeds mostly on insects, small crustaceans, mollusks, frogs, and sometimes even small fish or reptiles. It hunts mainly at night, using its keen vision and stealthy movement to stalk prey.
Breeding often takes place in the dry season, depending on region. Water thick-knees are monogamous and very territorial, especially during nesting. They make simple ground nests, often just a shallow scrape near water, where the female lays two mottled eggs. Both parents share incubation and chick-rearing duties.
An interesting behavior of the water thick-knee is its aggressive defense of territory, not just against predators, but sometimes even against large animals like crocodiles. There have been documented cases of thick-knees nesting close to crocodile nests and forming a kind of unofficial alliance, where both species protect their young from shared threats.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central Af. Rep.
Congo-Brazzaville
Côte D’ivoire
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Somalia
South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
