stone curlew

noun

1. thick-knee.

stone curlew

noun

1. any of several brownish shore birds of the family Burhinidae, esp Burhinus oedicnemus, having a large head and eyes: order Charadriiformes Also calledthick-knee

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone curlew¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Word History and Origins

Origin of stone curlew¹

C17: so called because it is found in stony habitats and resembles a curlew

Example Sentences

Suffolk Wildlife Trust wants to extend the Lackford Lakes reserve, to safeguard an area where rare species such as stone curlew have bred.

From BBC

The environmental organisation has filmed a hunter illegally shooting a rare stone curlew.

From The Guardian

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said the bodies of eight stone curlews had been found in fields in Norfolk, Suffolk and Wiltshire over the past few days.

From Children's BBC

The willet, or stone curlew as it is sometimes called, is a resident species, breeding from Washington to Mexico.

From Project Gutenberg

The stone curlew, our little bustard with the long wings, big, yellow eyes, and wild voice, still frequents the uncultivated downs, unhappily in diminishing numbers.

From Project Gutenberg