Bush Stone-curlew - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Burhinus grallarius

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 07 Sep 2017

Description

The Bush Stone-curlew stands about 55 cm tall. It has a grey to light brown back, marked with black blotches, and a streaked rump. It has buff and white underparts with dark streaks, and a black band that runs from near its eye down its neck. This species has large, bright yellow eyes and a hunch-shouldered stance on long spindly legs. When disturbed it lies flat on the ground, with its head and neck outstretched. Its call is a loud eerie wailing "wee-loo", mostly heard at night.

Distribution

The Bush Stone-curlew is found throughout Australia except for the central southern coast and inland, the far south-east corner, and Tasmania. Only in northern Australia is it still common however and in the south-east it is either rare or extinct throughout its former range.

Habitat and ecology

Inhabits open forests and woodlands with a sparse grassy groundlayer and fallen timber.
Largely nocturnal, being especially active on moonlit nights.
Feed on insects and small vertebrates, such as frogs, lizards and snakes.
Nest on the ground in a scrape or small bare patch.
Two eggs are laid in spring and early summer.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Predation by foxes and cats.
Trampling of eggs by cattle.
Clearance of woodland habitat for agricultural and residential development.
Modification and destruction of ground habitat through removal of litter and fallen timber, introduction of exotic pasture grasses, grazing and frequent fires.
Disturbance in the vicinity of nest sites.
Negative impacts of pesticides on wildlife when used around nesting sites and habitat.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Keep domestic dogs and cats indoors at night. Desex domestic dogs and cats.
Undertake fox and feral cat control programs.
Assess the appropriateness of dog and cat ownership in new subdivisions.
Remove cattle from paddocks containing nesting areas at least during breeding season or while eggs and chicks are in nest.
Retain existing vegetation along roadsides, in paddocks and remnant stands of native trees.
Retain dead timber on the ground in open woodland areas.
Fence off nesting sites.
Fence off suitable woodland habitats, particularly those with unimproved pasture and an intact native ground plant layer.
Increase the size of existing remnants, planting trees and establishing buffer zones of unimproved uncultivated pasture around woodland remnants.
Assess the importance of the site to the species' survival. Include the linkages the site provides for the species between ecological resources across the broader landscape.

Information sources

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW) (2007) Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna of the Greater Southern Sydney Region. Volume 2: Fauna of Conservation Concern including priority pest species. (DECC NSW, Hurstville)
Department of Environment and Conservation NSW (2006) NSW Recovery Plan for the Bush Stone-curlew Burhinus grallarius. (DEC, Sydney)
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water NSW (2010) Northern Rivers Regional Biodiversity Management Plan.
Garnett, S.T., Szabo, J.K. and Dutson, G. (2011) Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010. (CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood, Victoria)
Johnson, G. and Baker-Gabb, D.J. (1994) The Bush Thick-knee in Northern Victoria Part 1: Conservation and Management. Arthur Rylah Institute Technical report No 129. (Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, East Melbourne)
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (Eds) (1993) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. (Oxford University Press, Melbourne)
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
Robinson, D. and Traill, B.J. (1996) Conserving woodland birds in the wheat and sheep belts of southern Australia. RAOU Conservation Statement No. 10. (Birds Australia, Melbourne)

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Range	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Moonie-Barwon Interfluve	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Narrandool	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Outwash	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Barrier Range Outwash	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Mootwingee Downs	Predicted	None
Broken Hill Complex	Scopes Range	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Bulloo Dunefields	Predicted	None
Channel Country	Central Depression	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Boorindal Plains	Predicted	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Castlereagh-Barwon	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Culgoa-Bokhara	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Great Darling Anabranch	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Louth Plains	Predicted	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Menindee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Pooncarie-Darling	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Warrambool-Moonie	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Wilcannia Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Cuttaburra-Paroo	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Kerribree Basin	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Nebine Plains	Known	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo Overflow	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Paroo-Darling Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Urisino Sandplains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Plains	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	Warrego Sands	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	West Warrego	Predicted	None
Mulga Lands	White Cliffs Plateau	Predicted	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
Nandewar	Inverell Basalts	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Kaputar	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Nandewar Northern Complex	Predicted	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Armidale Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Bundarra Downs	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Eastern Nandewars	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Glenn Innes-Guyra Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Nightcap	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Northeast Forest Lands	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Walcha Plateau	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Wongwibinda Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Coffs Coast and Escarpment	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Dalmorton	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Guy Fawkes	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Karuah Manning	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Macleay Hastings	Known	None
NSW North Coast	Washpool	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Capertee Valley	Predicted	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Ocean	Hawkesbury Shelf	Known	None
Ocean	Tweed-Moreton	Known	None
Ocean - Other State	Northern Australian Coastal Waters	Known	None
Other State	Jervis Bay Territory	Predicted	None
Other State	QLD	Known	None
Other State	SA	Known	None
Other State	VIC	Known	None
Riverina	Lachlan	Predicted	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Scroll Belt	Predicted	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Known	None
South East Corner	Bateman	Known	None
South East Corner	South East Coastal Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bathurst	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Capertee Uplands	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Hill End	Predicted	None
South Eastern Highlands	Orange	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Burringbar-Conondale Ranges	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Lowlands	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Clarence Sandstones	Known	None
South Eastern Queensland	Sunshine Coast-Gold Coast Lowlands	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Cumberland	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Illawarra	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Jervis	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Pittwater	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Sydney Cataract	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wyong	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Yengo	Known	None

Sounds

Images

Adult Bush Stone-curlew Image 1 of 6.
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