Spotted Thick-knee
Spotted Thick-kneeSpotted Thick-kneeSpotted Thick-kneeSpotted Thick-knee

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Silhouette: Auckland Museum · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
at Waterberg Plateau Park
2 Verified sightings at Waterberg Plateau Park From 2019 to 2026
4,118 Verified sightings across all 41 parks From 2019 to 2026
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Spotted Thick-knee

The spotted thick-knee (Burhinus capensis), also known as the spotted dikkop or Cape thick-knee, is a wader in the family Burhinidae. It is native to tropical regions of central and southern Africa. The spotted thick-knee, which can reach up to 45.5 cm (17.9 in) in height, has long legs and brown-and-white speckled plumage which provides camouflage, making it difficult to spot the bird in the grasslands and savannas where it roams. Its head is large and round with a prominent yellow eye and a short, stout beak. When in flight or standing in a characteristic position with its wings raised, it shows a striking contrasting pattern. Its legs are long and yellow and the tibiotarsal joint is expanded, giving it the name "thick-knee".

The spotted thick-knee is nocturnal and squats on the ground during the daytime, making it difficult to spot. It hunts exclusively on the ground, feeding on insects, small mammals and lizards. It nests on the ground, lining a scrape with grasses, feathers, pebbles and twigs. The female typically lays two eggs, and males and females rear the offspring together, with both bringing food back to the nest. The birds... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Waterberg Plateau Park

Crowned Lapwing
LC

Crowned Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus coronatus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

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