Bush Stone-curlew
Burhinus grallarius
Cemetery, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_0647 20191208 - grey morph x 2 + chick x 2.
Notes: Distinctive large ground-dweller w. very long legs,
dark stripe through enormous yellow
eye, heavily streaked underparts &
wing coverts. Grey and rufous morphs: grey throughout
range, rufous in
N Aust. w. brown & rufous tinges to many upperpart feathers. Habitat is open
plains & woodlands, where they stalk slowly at night in search of
invertebrates, at times making
eerie wails. Uncommon in South.
Range from eBird©(last 10 years)
Cemetery, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_1075 20200531 - rufous morph x 2
Centenary Lakes, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_2589 20190818 - grey morph "invisible".
Yungaburra, Tablelands, FNE Qld IMG_7281 20190324 - rufous morph
Centenary Lakes, Cairns, FNE Qld IMG_9014 20230403 - grey/rufous morphs. CLICK for a close-up.
Kings Range, Gordonvale, FNE Qld IMG_2516 20220918 - grey/rufous morph. CLICK for another view.
Saltwater Creek, Centenary Lakes, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_4876 20210307 - grey morph. CLICK for another on CairnsEsplanade, 20240610.
Howard Springs Nature Park, N NT IMG_4230 20180729 - rufous morph sitting on heels.
Cape Hillsborough NP, NE Qld IMG_1532 20151025 - grey morph adult + chick x 2.
Centennary Lakes, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_0483 20231103 -
Goldsborough Valley Campground, Cairns FNE Qld IMG_2745 20201129 - grey morph.
Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_2372+2364+2374 20200605 20200604 - eerie calls at night
Botanical Gardens, Cairns North, FNE Qld IMG_2722 20220920 - on guard.