# spotted thick-knee (*Burhinus capensis*) The spotted thick-knee is a funny-looking bird with big eyes and long legs. It loves to hide in the grass during the day and comes out at night to find food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![spotted thick-knee](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spotted_Thick-knee_%28Burhinus_capensis%29_%2832680086412%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spotted_Thick-knee_%28Burhinus_capensis%29_%2832680086412%29.jpg) ## Appearance The spotted thick-knee is a medium-sized ground bird with large yellow eyes and long, thick yellow-black legs. Its plumage is mottled brown, grey, and black, providing excellent camouflage, while its head shows distinctive dark streaks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Burhinidae - **Genus:** Burhinus ## Interesting facts - Adults can fake a broken wing to distract danger away from their precious eggs! - If scared, chicks will crouch motionless, becoming almost invisible to predators! - Instead of building nests, they lay their eggs directly on the ground among pebbles! - Their scientific name, 'Burhinus', means 'ox-nose', referring to their unique, broad bill! ## Special abilities - **Stealthy Spotter:** spotted thick-knee can vanish into its surroundings due to mottled feathers that perfectly mimic dry grass and stones. - **Night Vision Master:** spotted thick-knee has huge yellow eyes that help it spot tiny prey, like insects, in the darkest night. - **Padded Prowler:** spotted thick-knee has thick leg joints, allowing silent walking and shock absorption when running on rough terrain. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 37-44 cm - **Wingspan:** 74-83 cm - **Weight:** 0.4-0.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-3 - **Incubation:** 26-30 days ## Diet & Feeding These nocturnal hunters gobble up insects, spiders, small reptiles, and even tiny rodents! - **Primary Foods:** beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, lizards, mice, frogs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Lion (*Panthera leo*) — can be hunted by large nocturnal predators. - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — vulnerable to large birds of prey during the day. - **Hunts:** Natal Multimammate Mouse (*Mastomys natalensis*) — a common rodent hunted during night foraging. - **Hunts:** African Field Cricket (*Gryllus bimaculatus*) — one of many insects caught by stealthy thick-knees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spotted thick-knee? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is spotted thick-knee? 37-44 cm ### What is spotted thick-knee's wingspan? 74-83 cm ### How much does spotted thick-knee weigh? 0.4-0.6 kg ### How long does spotted thick-knee live? 10-15 years ### How fast can spotted thick-knee move? 40 km/h ### What does spotted thick-knee eat? These nocturnal hunters gobble up insects, spiders, small reptiles, and even tiny rodents! ### Where is spotted thick-knee usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Spotted Thick-knee: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-thick-knee)