Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Indian Stone-curlew
Burhinus indicus
Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) is a member of the Burhinidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 307 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Burhinidae Stone-curlews, Thick-knees
- Genus Burhinus
- Species indicus
Where it lives
Inland northwestern, western India and Sri Lanka east to central Myanmar, central Thailand, Cambodia and southern Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 307 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Burhinidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Indian Stone-curlew is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Indian Stone-curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) is a species of bird in the Burhinidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR inland nw, w India and Sri Lanka e to c Myanmar, c Thailand, Cambodia and s Vietnam.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 307 g, with a wing length of about 20.4 cm and a tail of around 9.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Indian Stone-curlew?
The Indian Stone-curlew is a large bird that weighs around 307 g.
Where does the Indian Stone-curlew live?
The Indian Stone-curlew is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR inland nw, w India and Sri Lanka e to c Myanmar, c Thailand, Cambodia and s Vietnam, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Indian Stone-curlew belong to?
The Indian Stone-curlew (Burhinus indicus) belongs to the Burhinidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Indian Stone-curlew eat?
The Indian Stone-curlew is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Indian Stone-curlew migrate?
The Indian Stone-curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Indian Stone-curlew endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Indian Stone-curlew make?
1 real field recording of the Indian Stone-curlew — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Indian Stone-curlew's range?
The Indian Stone-curlew has a mapped global range of about 3.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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