Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
stone curlew

stone curlew

9.9
A large bird with a big head and eyes that is active at night near coasts and wetlands
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : alcaraván
  • The stone curlew is rarely seen during the day because it is mostly active at dusk and night.

Examples

  • Because of its large yellow eyes, the stone curlew stands out among other wading birds.

  • Birdwatchers travel to special reserves in Europe to catch a glimpse of the elusive stone curlew.

  • The stone curlew is known for its distinctive call.

  • Have you ever spotted a stone curlew in the wild?

  • Because of its large yellow eyes, the stone curlew stands out among other wading birds.

  • Birdwatchers travel to special reserves in Europe to catch a glimpse of the elusive stone curlew.

  • The stone curlew is rarely seen during the day because it is mostly active at dusk and night.

Synonyms

thick-knee
vsstone curlew
  • Specialized
9.9

A large wading bird with big eyes and a thick knee joint

has identical meaning but uses a different common name
Burhinus
vsstone curlew
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of wading birds like stone curlews that are active at night on open ground

is the common term for individual birds rather than the genus

Surface Forms

stone curlew singular
stone curlews plural

Morphology

stone + curlew

This is an endocentric compound: the head is 'curlew' so the phrase denotes a kind or subtype of curlew, with 'stone' qualifying its appearance or habitat. A B1 learner who knows 'stone' and 'curlew' can therefore infer it refers to a curlew that is stone-coloured or associated with stony ground, so the meaning is transparently derived from the parts.

Etymology

Stone curlew probably comes from the bird's way of standing very still on rocky ground: stone for the rocks and curlew because it looks and sounds like other curlews. That image of a big-eyed bird among stones at dusk explains why the name now means a large-headed bird that is 'active at night'.