These are Bush Stone Curlews and they are a rather strange bird! Firstly look at the way they bend their legs to sit on the ground. Secondly they make some of the strangest noises that I have hear a bird make. You can hear them on these two clips. (These are not mine clips – just links).
The third thing that makes these birds strange is that they have a behavior that is a “stick” mimic! When under threat they will stretch out flat and rely on camouflage – or to put it in a very unscientific way, the pretend to be a stick!
They were common on Magnetic Island and not that hard to approach – but their calls at night still sounded strange.
You can find more birds from around the world at World Bird Wednesday.
You can also see the most recent post on my other blog by clicking the Paying Ready Attention picture on the RHS of the screen.
Enjoy the birds.
gorgeous huge eyes! the stick is pretty clever! and their cries almost sound like those tropical frogs. :) thanks for pulling these out of archive!
ReplyDeleteGreat lookers,and with all those other attributes, a really intersting Bird!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for sharing this wonderful little bird Stewart your images are fantastic.
ReplyDeleteRe: the butterflies.. I don't think you will ever be able to see all of those in Oz.
Less than 60 in the UK and my count is still quite low.
Take care my friend.
Interesting bird, Stewart, and they sure are noisy.
ReplyDeleteThey are cute looking birds, Stewart. They sound like smart birds. I love the last closeup of the birds face and eye. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing this new bird.
ReplyDeletethey look a little like thick-knees. I´m glad you found them again so you could share them. :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, Stewart, these are astounding photos!
ReplyDeleteThat is one fascinating bird. Pretends to be stick wow! He is beautiful and certainly looks nothing like the curlews we have here in Florida.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing looking bird Stewart.
ReplyDeleteStrange birds indeed...but beautiful!
ReplyDeleteJust listened to their call--pretty strange indeed. They look like very interesting birds. Love the way they bend their legs when they sit on the ground!
ReplyDeleteStewart, these are great! What a lovely looking bird.
ReplyDeleteI am rather jealous of all these amazing bird shots... I just linked up my Silver Gull post from last week as I missed the linkup by a day (rather boring in comparison to some of the posts this week!!)
What an interesting bird. It had me faked out thinking it was a short-legged bird until you put on the shot of it standing up. Very nice.
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the stick defense as they certainly have the body for it..interesting birds Andrew...
ReplyDeleteHow in the world did you forget about these? That's some pretty good mining.
ReplyDeleteCheers Stewart!
Wow, lovely trio in the first photo:)
ReplyDeletegreat photos Stewart and how intruiging that trait of beding the legs to sit how they do. I have seen them at a nature reserve but hadn't know they did that.
ReplyDeleteFascinating bird, Stewart, and great pix! Looks like their "knees" bend the wrong way, but they must be the equivalent of ankles. Eerie calls!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful bird, great captured to! Have a nice day :)
ReplyDeleteWow! They can really make some noise! What an interesting bird to share on WBW!
ReplyDelete