Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Eurasian Stone-curlew
Burhinus oedicnemus
Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is a member of the Burhinidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 459 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 oedicnemus
Where it lives
Western Europe, Canary Is. and northern Africa to Lithuania, northern Kazakhstan and far western China, south to Levant, Iraq and western Pakistan
Quick facts
- Weight
- 459 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 Eurasian 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 Eurasian Stone-curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) is a species of bird in the Burhinidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w Europe, Canary Is. and n Africa to Lithuania, n Kazakhstan and far w China, s to Levant, Iraq and w Pakistan.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 459 g, with a wing length of about 23.3 cm and a tail of around 11.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Eurasian Stone-curlew?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew is a large bird that weighs around 459 g.
Where does the Eurasian Stone-curlew live?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w Europe, Canary Is. and n Africa to Lithuania, n Kazakhstan and far w China, s to Levant, Iraq and w Pakistan, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Eurasian Stone-curlew belong to?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) belongs to the Burhinidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Eurasian Stone-curlew eat?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Eurasian Stone-curlew migrate?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Eurasian 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 Eurasian Stone-curlew make?
1 real field recording of the Eurasian Stone-curlew — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Eurasian Stone-curlew's range?
The Eurasian Stone-curlew has a mapped global range of about 9.2 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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