Spotted Thick-knee / Spotted Dikkop

Afrikaans name: Gewone dikkop

Above - Spotted Thick-knee

Photo © Steven Herbert

Burhinus capensis

The Spotted Thick-knee is found over much of South Africa in suitable habitats. It prefers areas of grassland, or savanna, but is also not uncommon in some urban areas.

They feed on a wide variety of insects, spiders, worms and other creatures they find as they forage on the ground.

Spotted Thick-knees create a shallow nest on the ground. It is normally lined with a few leaves and twigs. Up to 3 eggs are laid and are tended to by both sexes. The eggs are mottled brown which makes them difficult to spot. Both parents feed the young.

Above - Spotted Thick-knee moving away from its resting place after being disturbed

Photo © Steven Herbert

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	275	Burhinops capensis capensis
2nd	275	Burhinus capensis
3rd	275	Burhinus capensis
4th	275	Burhinus capensis
5th	297	Burhinus capensis
6th	297	Burhinus capensis
7th	272	Burhinus capensis

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	275	Cape Dikkop
2nd	275	Cape Dikkop
3rd	275	Cape Dikkop
4th	275	Dikkop
5th	297	Spotted Dikkop
6th	297	Spotted Dikkop
7th	272	Spotted Thick-knee

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	275	Gewone-dikkop
2nd	275	Dikkop
3rd	275	Dikkop
4th	275	Dikkop
5th	297	Dikkop
6th	297	Dikkop
7th	272	Gewone Dikkop

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 82

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 47

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 38

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 39

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 316

Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Published: 2000 - Page: 30

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 112

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 48

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 114

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 20

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 24

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 240

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 196

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 162

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 258

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 188

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 263

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 196

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 147

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 116

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 25

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 128

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 48

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 128

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 55

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 134

Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind - Author: B. Hilton-Barber & Prof. L. R. Berger - Published: 2004 - Page: 180

Gamebirds and Waterfowl of Southern Africa - Author: CG Finch-Davies, Dr Alan Kemp - Published: 1986 - Page: 155

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 134

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 92

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 31

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 27

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 104

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 60

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 38

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 100

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 50

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 122

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 154

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 77

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 154

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 126

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