stone curlew

noun

1. thick-knee.

stone curlew

noun

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

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.

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

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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.

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

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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.

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