Water Thick-knee
Water Thick-kneeWater Thick-kneeWater Thick-kneeWater Thick-knee

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Silhouette: Auckland Museum · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Etosha National Park
15 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026
12,091 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026
August Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Water Thick-knee

The water thick-knee or water dikkop (Burhinus vermiculatus) is a species of bird in the thick-knee family Burhinidae. The species is found across sub-Saharan Africa, usually close to water. The water thick-knee has a widespread distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, being found in Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Across its range it is found on the edges of lakes, estuaries and rivers, as well as mangroves and also some sheltered beaches. It also needs bushes or nearby woodlands for shelter. It is found from sea-level to 1,800 m (5,900 ft).

There are two accepted subspecies: Burhinus vermiculatus vermiculatus — Democratic Republic of Congo to Somalia and South Africa Burhinus vermiculatus buettikoferi (Reichenow, 1898) — Liberia to Gabon The water thick-knee is 38 to 41 cm (15–16 in) and weighs 293–320 g (10.3–11.3 oz). It has a heavy... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Spotted Thick-knee
LC

Spotted Thick-knee

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Burhinus capensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

Daily sighting probability ~70% · Very likely
Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Double-banded Courser

Double-banded Courser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhinoptilus africanus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Black-winged Stilt
LC

Black-winged Stilt

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Himantopus himantopus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Wood Sandpiper
LC

Wood Sandpiper

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa glareola

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Ruff
LC

Ruff

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris pugnax

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Little Stint
LC

Little Stint

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Calidris minuta

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Greenshank
LC

Common Greenshank

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tringa nebularia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
African Jacana
LC

African Jacana

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Actophilornis africanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Pied Avocet
LC

Pied Avocet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Recurvirostra avosetta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Burchell's Courser
LC

Burchell's Courser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cursorius rufus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
2 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~50%
3 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~50%
4 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
5 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
6 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
7 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~40%
8 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~40%
9 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~40%
10 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
11 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~30%
12 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~30%
13 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
14 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
15 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
16 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
17 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
18 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
19 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
20 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~20%
21 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
22 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
23 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
24 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
25 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
26 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
27 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
28 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
~10%
29 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
30 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
31 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
32 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
33 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
34 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
35 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
36 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
37 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
38 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
39 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
40 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
41 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Water Thick-knee in Etosha National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Water Thick-knee sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Water Thick-knee in Etosha National Park?

August has the highest sighting rate for Water Thick-knee in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Etosha National Park