STONE CURLEW Meaning and
Definition
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Stone curlew, also known as the Eurasian thick-knee (Burhinus oedicnemus), is a large, ground-dwelling bird species belonging to the family Burhinidae, native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia. It is primarily known for its distinctive appearance and behavior.
The stone curlew has a robust body structure, measuring around 40-46 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of about 95-100 centimeters. Its plumage is mainly sandy-brown in color, appropriately camouflaging it with its natural habitat. The bird possesses large, bright yellow eyes, a short, strong, and slightly down-curved beak that aids in catching prey, and long legs adapted for terrestrial lifestyle.
These birds are predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular, remaining inactive during the day and becoming more active at dusk or at night. The stone curlew is characterized by its loud, haunting call, which resembles a piercing, repetitive whistle, often heard during the breeding season. They inhabit open and semi-open habitats, such as heathland, grassland, moors, and scrub. Their diet mainly consists of insects, small vertebrates like lizards and rodents, and occasionally seeds or fruits.
Stone curlews are generally monogamous and form long-term pair bonds. They build their nests on the ground, which are simple scrapes with minimal lining, usually among tall vegetation or rocks to provide camouflage. Females lay one or two eggs per clutch, which are incubated by both parents for about 25-30 days. The chicks are precocial, meaning they are born with open eyes and downy feathers, and are capable of feeding themselves soon after hatching.
Due to habitat loss and disturbances, the stone
Common Misspellings for STONE CURLEW
- atone curlew
- ztone curlew
- xtone curlew
- dtone curlew
- etone curlew
- wtone curlew
- srone curlew
- sfone curlew
- sgone curlew
- syone curlew
- s6one curlew
- s5one curlew
- stine curlew
- stkne curlew
- stlne curlew
- stpne curlew
- st0ne curlew
- st9ne curlew
- stobe curlew
Etymology of STONE CURLEW
The word "stone curlew" is derived from Old English and Middle English roots.
The term "stone" refers to the bird's preferred habitat - stony, barren areas, such as open grasslands, fields, and heathlands. The Old English root "stan" means "stone", and it has been used historically to describe a similar habitat-loving bird known as "stonewode", which later evolved into "stone curlew".
The word "curlew" is derived from Middle English, and it can be traced back to the Old French word "courlieu" or "courleu", which was used to describe various species of large, wading birds. Ultimately, the word "curlew" originated from the Old Norse word "korli", meaning "curlew".
Together, the terms "stone" and "curlew" describe the distinct characteristics and preferred habitat of this bird species.
Similar spelling words for STONE CURLEW
- stonecutter,
- stone grill,
- stone age,
- Stan Musial,
- stone crab,
- bush stone-curlew,
- stone cutter,
- eurasian stone-curlew,
- carol steen,
- stone cress,
- stonehouse,
- stonewash,
- stony coral.
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