Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Silhouette: Auckland Museum · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyBurhinidae (Stone-curlews and Thick-knees)
GenusBurhinus (Typical Stone-curlews)
SpeciesBurhinus vermiculatus (Water Thick-knee)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Kibale National Park

2 Verified sightings at Kibale National Park From 2019 to 2026

12,091 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Kibale National Park

Vanellus senegallus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Actitis hypoleucos

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Actophilornis africanus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Vanellus spinosus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Himantopus himantopus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Vanellus lugubris

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tringa ochropus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Vanellus tectus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Tringa glareola

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Calidris pugnax

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Kibale National Park

Water Thick-knee

About the Water Thick-knee

Recent sightings of Water Thick-knee in Kibale National Park

Closest Relatives at Kibale National Park

African Wattled Lapwing

Common Sandpiper

African Jacana

Spur-winged Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

Black-winged Stilt

Senegal Lapwing

Green Sandpiper

Black-headed Lapwing

Wood Sandpiper

Ruff

Grey-hooded Gull

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found