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    Burhinus

    It seems like they wear long yellow boots complimenting their common name, i.e., thick-knee

    Often described as peculiar or even comical in appearance, these birds possess a set of features that make them incredibly well-suited to their preferred habitats—dry, open landscapes such as grasslands, heathlands, and savannas.

    With their mottled, streaky brown plumage that mirrors the hues of their arid environments, Eurasian thick-knees are masters of disguise, able to vanish into the landscape to evade detection by predators and to stealthily approach their prey. This cryptic coloration is so effective that they can often be overlooked, even when they are present in relatively open terrain.

    Eurasian thick-knees are characterized by their large, conspicuous yellow eyes, which are an adaptation to their crepuscular and nocturnal lifestyle. These eyes are disproportionately large compared to their head size, granting them excellent night vision, crucial for spotting insects, small mammals, and other prey during the night or twilight hours.

    The species exhibits considerable variation across its range, spanning Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Subspecies differ not just in coloration—ranging from shades of pinkish-brown to a more somber grey—but also in size and leg length, reflecting their diverse environments.

    Contrary to what one might expect from their somewhat stern appearance, Eurasian thick-knees possess a surprisingly melodious call. Far from the eerie or haunting sounds typically associated with nocturnal birds, their vocalizations are complex and can carry over long distances, communicating between individuals, especially during the breeding season.

    When in flight, the Eurasian thick-knee reveals another distinctive feature: contrasting black-and-white patterns on their flight feathers, which are visually striking and may also play a role in social signaling or in confusing potential predators.

    The behavior of these birds is also of interest. They are known for their ‘freeze’ tactic when threatened, where they remain motionless, relying on their plumage for concealment. They are also known to feign injury to lure predators away from their nests—a behavior known as ‘distraction display.’