kakadu reserve - beach stone curlew - a photo on Flickriver

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Beach Stone-curlew
Scientific Name: Esacus magnirostris
Description: The Beach Stone-Curlew is a very large thick-set wader. Adults have a large head, massive uptilted bill, hunched profile, stout legs and thick 'knees' (actually ankles). The upper body is predominately grey-brown with distinctive black and white patterning on the face, shoulder and secondary wings. The throat and breast are a paler grey-brown, the belly is white and the wings are white with some black on the tips. The large bill is yellow at the base and black at the tip. Beach Stone-Curlews have a large yellow eye and a broad black eye patch, with white bands above and below it. Also known as the Beach Thick-knee
Similar species: There are no species with which the Beach Stone-curlew may be confused. It is readily distinguished from all other waders by its large size, massive bill with yellow patches at the base, and bold black and white pattern on the head. The related Bush Stone-curlew, Burhinus grallarius, has a much smaller bill, a less boldly marked face, and has extensive black streaking on the body.
Where does it live?
Distribution: The Beach Stone-Curlew has been observed around the north coast of Australia and associated islands from near Onslow in Western Australia to the Manning River in New South Wales. The species has largely disappeared from the south-eastern part of its former range, and is now rarely recorded on ocean beaches in New South Wales.
Habitat: The Beach Stone-Curlew occurs on open, undisturbed beaches, islands, reefs, and estuarine intertidal sand and mudflats, prefering beaches with estuaries or mangroves nearby. However this species also frequents river mouths, offshore sandbars associated with coral atolls, reefs and rock platforms and coastal lagoons.
Feeding: The Beach Stone-Curlew forages on large intertidal mudflats, sandflats, sandbanks and sandpits exposed by low tide for crabs and other marine invertebrates. Beach Stone-Curlews feed mostly on crabs, hammering them open and sometimes washing them before swallowing.
Breeding: Beach Stone-curlew nests may be located on sandbanks, sandpits, or islands in estuaries, coral ridges, among mangroves or in the sand surrounded by short grass and scattered casuarinas. Typically one egg is laid per season, however, the female may lay a second egg if the first is lost. Once the young have hatched, both parents care for them until they reach 7-12 months old.
Calls: A repeated, mournful, wailing 'wee loo', which is higher and harsher than that of the Bush Stone-curlew. When alarmed the Beach Stone-curlew may produce a 'weal' yapping sound.
Minimum Size: 55cm
Maximum Size: 57cm
Average size: 56cm
Average weight: 1 000g
Breeding season: September to November
Clutch Size: 1 egg
Incubation: 30 days
(Source: www.birdsinbackyards.net)

© Chris Burns 2021
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This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying and recording without my written consent.

Taken in: Australia / Queensland / Old Bribie (show map)

Taken on: January 6, 2021

Tags:

Beach Stone-curlew

Esacus magnirostris

Australian bied

fauna

Australian fauna

curlew

water bird

beach bird

wader

Nikon D500

Nikon 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VRS

Kakadu Nature Reserve

Banksia Beach

Bribie Island « less

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Camera: Nikon D500, f/10.0, 1/400 sec, 500mm (=750mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D500
Lens:	200.0-500.0 mm f/5.6
Aperture:	f/10.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	500mm (35mm equivalent: 750mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	+2/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop 22.0 (Windows)
Show full info

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