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When to see Spotted Thick-knee in Pilanesberg National Park
Spotted Thick-knee are most active at night (19:00 to 05:00). Much of their activity falls outside gate hours, so the first drive after the gates open and the last hour before they close give you the best chance.
This is Spotted Thick-knee's general behavior. Once enough sightings are logged in Pilanesberg National Park, this page also shows when they're actually seen here.
Where to look for Spotted Thick-knee in Pilanesberg National Park: best roads
Drive
Moruleng, Thlware and Dithabaneng run through mixed bushveld and open grassland: good country for Spotted Thick-knee.
- Moruleng3.9 km · mixed bushveld
- Thlware2.6 km · mixed bushveld
- Dithabaneng12.5 km · mixed bushveld and open grassland
Picked from habitat, not from sightings. opspoor shows where Spotted Thick-knee have actually been seen recently.
About the Spotted Thick-knee
The spotted thick-knee is a large-eyed, ground-dwelling bird of African grasslands, savanna, shrubland and semi-arid habitats. Its brown, black and white plumage provides excellent camouflage during the day. It is mainly nocturnal and forages on foot, feeding primarily on insects and other invertebrates but also taking small reptiles, amphibians and other small prey. It is often detected by its distinctive calls rather than by sight.
How to identify the Spotted Thick-knee
Large ground-dwelling bird with a disproportionately large rounded head, huge yellow eyes, stout bill, long yellow legs and brown-and-white speckled camouflage. Most active around dusk and at night.
Other species to look for in Pilanesberg National Park
Other parks where you can see Spotted Thick-knee
Heading to Pilanesberg National Park? opspoor shows where Spotted Thick-knee have been logged recently and lets you log your own, even with no signal.