Burhindiae

views updated

Burhindiae (thick-knees, stone-curlews; class Aves, order Charadriiformes) A family of sandy or grey-brown birds that have large heads and eyes, shortish, stout bills, and long legs with thickened tibiotarsal joints. The feet are semipalmate with three toes. They are crepuscular and nocturnal, and live in open, stony and sandy country. They feed on invertebrates, mice, and frogs, and are ground-nesting. There are two genera, with nine species, found in Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, Central and S. America.

More From encyclopedia.com