Scientific name: Burhinus vermiculatus
In contrast to the Spotted thick-knee with its spotted appearance, the Water thick-knee has a brown, white and black streaky appearance with a pale grey panel on the folded wing, upwards delimited by white and dark. Notice also the face pattern with broad white from base of bill to below eye, dark malar and white chin and throat.
Within southern Africa it is locally common in Zimbabwe, patches of Mozambique, eastern and southern South Africa, northern and eastern Botswana and northern Namibia (including the Caprivi Strip).
It generally prefers freshwater wetlands, especially dams, lakes and large rivers but also mangroves, estuaries and open banks.
It mainly eats insects, other invertebrates, frogs and tadpoles, doing most of its foraging in a plover-like manner, repeatedly running forward a bit before pausing and jabbing at prey.
