HEATHLAND
Stone-curlew make a variety of sometimes blood-curdling calls. Their distinctive nocturnal ‘curr-loo-eee’ is the most frequent, but they also hiss and wail. Nighttime across Breckland can be noisy when there are ‘Stonies’ about! Similar species: Unlikely to be mistaken for anything else, though views are often distant. Curlew have long, down-curved beaks, although they share the buff and brown colouring of Stone-curlew and are also found on Breckland heaths and farmland. Likewise, female Pheasants are a similar colour but are larger with long tails and hold themselves horizontally; be aware of young Pheasants, which lack the long tail of the adults. Where to look: Weeting Heath. In late summer post-breeding flocks can often be seen at Cavenham Heath before migrating south for winter.
Chris Knights / BTO
Fun fact: Despite their name, Stone-curlews are not closely related to the more familiar Curlew but are named for their similarity of calls. We are now lucky that the banshee-wailing of Stone-curlews at night is, once more, a characteristic sound of Breckland in summer.
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