Birds Active at night

Bush Stone-curlew

Burhinus grallarius

iNaturalist Wikipedia

Master of the midnight wail and the 'statue' pose, the Bush Stone-curlew is Australia's most charismatic nocturnal ground bird. With its striking yellow eyes and incredible camouflage, it turns any suburban backyard into a wild woodland stage.

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0 Habitats

Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 55-60 cm (22-24 in); Wingspan: 80-105 cm (31-41 in); Weight: 700-1000 g (1.5-2.2 lbs)

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Colors

Mottled grey-brown upperparts with heavy black and rufous streaks; pale underparts with fine streaking; prominent white 'eyebrow' stripe and large yellow iris. Sexes are monomorphic (look identical).

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Key Features

Large yellow eyes for nocturnal hunting
Long, knobby grey-green legs
Cryptic streaked plumage for ground camouflage
Freezes in a rigid, tilted 'statue' posture when threatened
Loud, mournful 'weer-lo' whistling call

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern Active at night

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Peak hours 7 PM - 5 AM

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Season Year-round

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Diet Carnivorous and insectivorous; they forage at night for beetles, grasshoppers, spiders, snails, and worms. They are also known to opportunisticially eat small frogs, lizards, and occasionally seeds.

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Habitat Open woodlands, dry grasslands, suburban gardens with mulch, golf courses, and coastal scrub with plenty of leaf litter.

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Where Does the Bush Stone-curlew Live?

The Bush Stone-curlew is native to the Australian continent and parts of southern New Guinea. While they were once common across the entire mainland, they are now most densely populated in northern and eastern Australia, particularly throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. In southern Australia, their range has become more fragmented due to habitat loss and predation, though they remain a common and beloved sight in many coastal suburban neighborhoods and rural townships.

Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors

2 Countries

4.5M km² Range

Least Concern Conservation

AU Australia Papua New Guinea

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iNaturalist / Verified observation data

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Behavior

The Bush Stone-curlew is a master of camouflage and a primarily nocturnal specialist. During the day, it spends most of its time sitting quietly in leaf litter or under the shade of a tree. When it senses a threat, rather than flying away, it relies on its cryptic plumage and adopts a peculiar rigid posture—either standing perfectly still with its neck stretched out or crouching flat against the ground. This behavior makes them nearly invisible to the untrained eye among dry grass and twigs.

Socially, these birds are typically found in pairs or small family groups and are highly territorial. They are most famous for their vocalizations; a haunting, high-pitched wail that can sound like a human scream to the uninitiated. This call is most frequent on moonlit nights and is used to maintain pair bonds and warn off intruders. Despite being capable flyers, they are almost exclusively ground-dwelling, walking with a slow, deliberate gait as they stalk their prey.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of a Bush Stone-curlew, your camera must be positioned low. These are tall birds, but they spend 100% of their time on the ground. Mount your camera between 30 and 45 centimeters (12-18 inches) off the ground, angled slightly upward or kept level. Placing the camera too high will result in top-down shots that miss their distinctive large yellow eyes and gangly legs. Look for open patches of ground adjacent to shrubs or fallen timber where they like to 'roost' during the day.

Because they are nocturnal, a camera with high-quality infrared (no-glow) LEDs is essential. Standard white-light flashes can startle them and cause them to flee, whereas no-glow infrared allows you to capture their natural foraging behavior. They are creatures of habit and often walk the same 'patrol' lines through a backyard or park every night. If you hear them calling, try to identify their walking path—often along fence lines or garden edges—and set your camera there.

You don't need traditional bait to attract them, but a bird-friendly garden is a huge draw. Maintaining a layer of organic mulch or leaf litter encourages the insects and snails they feed on. Providing a shallow, wide water bowl at ground level is also an excellent way to bring them directly into your camera's frame, especially during dry spells. During the breeding season (August to January), keep your distance if you find a nest, as the parents will freeze in place; a camera with a good motion trigger from 3-5 meters away will give you a front-row seat to their parenting without causing them stress.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bush Stone-curlew.

Beach Stone-curlew

Much larger with a massive, thick bill; strictly coastal habitat compared to the bush-dwelling nature of the Bush Stone-curlew.

Australian Bustard

Significantly larger and taller with a white neck and dark cap; lacks the intricate streaked camouflage and large yellow eyes of the curlew.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Bush Stone-curlews are strictly nocturnal. They are most active from dusk until dawn, with peak activity occurring during the middle of the night and around twilight when they begin foraging for insects.

The best way to attract them is to provide a 'messy' garden with plenty of leaf litter, mulch, and native ground cover, which supports the insects they eat. Avoid using pesticides and provide a ground-level water source. They also appreciate open spaces where they can walk freely without being boxed in by dense fencing.

Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates like beetles, crickets, spiders, and snails. They are also known to eat small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards, and occasionally seeds or small fruits found on the ground.

Yes, in many parts of northern and eastern Australia (like Brisbane and Cairns), they are very common in suburbs. They often nest in schoolyards, cemeteries, and residential gardens where they have adapted well to living alongside humans, provided they are safe from pets.

Beach Stone-curlews are larger and have a much thicker, heavier bill. They are also almost exclusively found on sandy beaches and mangroves, whereas Bush Stone-curlews prefer inland woodlands, parks, and grassy gardens.

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