Thick-knees (Burhinidae)

Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris) - HBW 3, p. 363

French: Oedicnème des récifs German: Rifftriel Spanish: Alcaraván Picogrueso Australiano
Other common names: Beach Stone-curlew/Curlew, Australian Stone-plover, Reef Thick-knee

Taxonomy: Œdicnemus magnirostris Vieillot, 1818, Depuch Island, Western Australia.
Formerly awarded monospecific genus Orthorhamphus; genus sometimes merged into Burhinus. Forms superspecies with E. recurvirostris, with which occasionally considered conspecific. Considerable confusion concerning correct nomenclature, resulting in recent proposals to adopt either giganteus or neglectus as valid species name, but magnirostris is the correct name (see page 350). Monotypic.

Distribution: Andaman Is and Malay Peninsula through Philippines, Indonesia and New Guinea to Australia and SW Pacific islands.