Spotted Thick-Knee

The Spotted Thick-Knee (Burhinus capensis) is one of the rare resident breeding birds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It appears in the southern Tihamah plains and the low slopes south of Jeddah Governorate in Makkah al-Mukarramah Province. Malaki Lake near Wadi Jazan Dam in Jazan Province is among its active habitats in Saudi Arabia. The total number of breeding pairs Saudi Arabia reaches one hundred annually.

The Spotted Thick-Knee has an almost complete panoramic vision due to its large, bulging eyes positioned on the sides of its head, leaving a blind spot of approximately fifteen degrees behind its head. It primarily feeds on a variety of insects, which it hunts while walking slowly on its long legs. The bird is usually active at night and partially during the day. It may also become active on overcast days when the sky is covered with clouds.

The Spotted Thick-Knee primarily resides at elevations below one thousand m, though it can occasionally be found at heights reaching up to two thousand m. It inhabits flat or undulating arid lands where low shrubs are scattered. The bird prefers open Acacia woodlands with limited undergrowth and areas that contain grasses and herbs interspersed with patches of bare sand or gravel.

The Spotted Thick-Knee generally forages alone or in pairs. A group of fifty birds was recorded roosting together in the Sultanate of Oman. It measures between thirty-seven cm and forty-four cm in length and weighs between 357 g and 610 g.

The Spotted Thick-Knee follows a territorial monogamous breeding system, where pairs mate and reproduce within designated territories. The male and female share responsibilities for incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks after hatching. The nest consists of a shallow depression on the ground, either unlined or lightly lined with plant debris. It is usually concealed among grasses and herbs and is often built under the shade of a shrub to protect it from direct sunlight for most of the day.

The female Spotted Thick-Knee lays two eggs, with an incubation period of twenty-four days. The chicks leave the nest shortly after hatching and become capable of flight within four to five weeks. The brood is likely to be double. The species is not globally or regionally threatened, and its population remains stable.