Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Esacus magnirostris
Family: Thick-knees and Stone-curlews · Status: Very rare visitor · Size: 53–57 cm · Conservation: Near Threatened
Resident in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, coastal Malay Peninsula, Indonesian archipelago towards the Philippines and parts of Oceania.
Large, bustard-like bird with long sturdy legs, heavy head, bulky bill and broad wings. Head boldly marked with black, white and grey-brown stripes. In flight, upperwings show mostly grey secondaries and mostly white inner primaries. Underwings all white except for black-tipped secondaries and outer primaries. Juvenile has duller bare-part colours and buff fringes to feathers of the upperparts.
Exclusively coastal on sandy beaches and sandflats, often near mangroves; also on rocks, mud and river mouths.
Mostly crepuscular and nocturnal. Forages on intertidal areas, stalking crabs with a heron-like lunge; dismembers prey with its massive bill.