Bush Stone-Curlew
Burhinus grallarius
Habitat Woodland, scrub lands and grass lands near water courses
IUCN Status Least Concern, listed as Endangered in New South Wales
Also known as the Bush Thick-knee, and more colloquially, murderbird. This nickname comes from their haunting call, which sounds like a human scream.
The Bush Stone-curlew is a terrestrial forager. It runs or walks about on long legs, digging in soft soil, leaf litter and rotting wood at night for frogs, lizards, insects, and spiders. Birds living on the coast will also eat molluscs.
Nests are made on the ground and the parents take turns incubating and caring for their young.
Bush Stone-curlews are cryptic, which means that when threatened, they will adopt an odd pose or lay perfectly still and rely on their plumage for camouflage.
Between 2014 and 2016, this bird was reintroduced into Mulligans Flat and can once again be heard nightly making their mysterious cries.
Photograph by Julie Clarke