Bush Stone-curlew

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

Standing 54–59 cm tall, this large, lanky ground bird is easily identified by its striking, bulbous yellow eyes and long, spindly yellow-olive legs. The plumage provides exceptional cryptic camouflage, consisting of a complex mix of grey, brown, and buff with heavy black streaks. A prominent white eyebrow sits above a thick dark stripe extending through the eye and down the neck, while the pale underparts feature bold vertical streaking. Both sexes look identical year-round. Its voice is one of Australia’s most iconic nocturnal sounds: a mournful, high-pitched "weer-lo" or "werloo" wail. These calls often build into an eerie, escalating chorus that can carry for kilometres. Primarily nocturnal, the Bush Stone-curlew spends daylight hours standing motionless or crouching near fallen timber. When approached, it adopts a characteristic "freeze" posture, stretching its neck low to the ground to mimic a dead branch. It moves with a slow, gingerly walk but can run quickly if pressed. In flight, its wings appear stiff and reveal prominent white patches. It forages on the ground for insects, molluscs, small vertebrates, and seeds. Found across mainland Australia, excluding Tasmania and the most arid central deserts, it prefers open woodlands, tropical savannas, and dry sclerophyll forests with sparse undergrowth. It has adapted well to suburban environments in northern and eastern regions, frequenting golf courses and quiet parks. It is most likely to be confused with the Beach Stone-curlew, which is much bulkier with a massive, thick bill. That species is strictly restricted to coastal fringes and lacks the heavy dark streaking across the breast and back characteristic of the Bush Stone-curlew.

Description · BirdUp · CC BY-SA 4.0

1. 01

   Large, staring pale yellow eyes

   Very large and bright, giving a distinctive 'staring' or 'eerie' expression, visible even from a distance.

2. 02

   Bold white eyebrow and dark facial stripes

   A prominent white supercilium bordered by dark lines, creating a strong, contrasting facial pattern.

3. 03

   Very long, thick, olive-yellow legs

   Legs appear disproportionately long and sturdy, with noticeably thickened joints, inspiring the bird's common name.

4. 04

   Finely streaked grey-brown plumage

   Intricate dark vertical streaks on the upperparts and breast create highly effective cryptic camouflage.