Water Thick-knee
Zambia, Africa
The water thick-knee (Burhinus vermiculatus), also known as the water dikkop, is a medium-sized African wading bird found across sub-Saharan Africa near lakes, rivers, and mangroves. Its name comes from the large, bulbous joints in its legs, which are actually its ankles, not knees. They are known for their large yellow eyes, which provide excellent night vision, and a heavy black bill with a pale, yellow base. They are terrestrial feeders that primarily forage at night for insects, crustaceans, and mollusks.
A unique behavior of the water thick-knee is its tendency to nest near or even directly on top of Nile crocodile nests. This is a symbiotic relationship where the loud birds act as sentries to warn of predators like monitor lizards, while the crocodiles provide a layer of protection for both nests.
Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
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