Taken by reader Ben Batt on Magnetic Island, just off the coast of Townsville, Australia, this picture hides—not very well—a Bush Stone-curlew (Burhinus grallarius). These birds crouch down and freeze when approached. This is an easy one compared to some other “spot-the-X” posts we’ve had, but remember that this degree of crypsis can still fool a predator, and that’s all that matters. A hungry predator doesn’t have time to minutely inspect the environment.
Got it!
And, of course, I read every Saturday post, PCC. 🙂
Those are some stare-into-your-non-existent-soul eyes on that curlew.
Excellent camo!
I got it, but pareidolia being what it is, I saw two other bird heads before finding the curlew.
Me too.
I am so bad at these. But this time I made the smart decision to look it up on Google. Once I knew what it looked like, it was much easier.
I’m definitely going to have to visit AU. I will need a naturalist guide though. Otherwise, I’m afraid I’d waste too much good stuff like this bird.
The crouch down and freeze is so cute! I hope they don’t get stepped on or run over.
What a cutie!
Ben, thanks, great fun! Great camo, too!
I just knew there had to be a story behind that curious name (from wiki):
Probably some story the helmsman told Cook after they ran aground…
They’re much more common around the city of Brisbane and much of coastal Queensland than people realise and they’re a reasonably large striking bird when you notice them. I’ve had a lot of folk come to me (knowing I’m a bird watcher) saying “I saw this big bird walking around on a street at night. What was it?”. Most people know of their chilling wailing call at night. So if you say “Curlew” they often say “Ah so that’s what they look like”