Overview
As dusk settles across the plains, a low, long-legged silhouette may emerge from what appeared to be an empty patch of ground. The spotted thick-knee is a cryptically patterned, ground-dwelling bird found across Tanzania’s dry savannahs, open grasslands and lightly wooded country.
During the day, it usually remains still beneath a bush, beside a rock or on bare earth, relying on its mottled plumage to avoid detection. After dark, it becomes much more active, walking steadily across the ground in search of insects and other small prey.
Also known as the spotted dikkop, this unusual bird is often heard before it is seen. Its far-carrying whistles and repeated calls are a distinctive feature of the African night.
Behaviour & How to Identify
Look for a medium-sized ground bird with long yellow legs, a large rounded head and enormous yellow eyes. Its brown-and-buff plumage is covered with dark spots and streaks, blending closely with stones, dry grass and bare soil.
Spotted thick-knees are mainly nocturnal. They forage by walking and pausing, picking beetles, termites, grasshoppers and other invertebrates from the ground. Small reptiles, amphibians and other tiny animals may also be taken.
Pairs are frequently seen together and may remain within the same territory throughout the year. They lay their eggs directly on bare ground or among stones, where the speckled shells are well camouflaged.
Interesting facts
Their enormous yellow eyes are adapted for nocturnal activity. They help the bird detect movement and forage in very low light.
They rely on stillness rather than concealment. A resting bird may remain completely motionless, allowing its patterned plumage to merge with the ground.
They do not build a conventional nest. Their eggs are laid in a shallow scrape on bare soil, gravel or stony ground.