Found along the shore, estuaries and tidal parts of rivers and along inland waters.
Migration
Summer migrant from the Palaearctic to our coasts and to the larger vleis, over-wintering fairly regularly.
Bird Call
The call is a resonant 'cur-lee' repeated, and a harsh 'crooee-crooee'.
Breeding
The eggs are a deep ivory with scattered dark markings.
Immature Description
Young birds are heavily mottled above.
Adult Description
Males are smaller than females. Upper parts mottled black and light chestnut; neck, chest and breast buff streaked with chestnut and dusky, rump and underparts white. Eyes brown, bill greyish, horn extremely long and downward curved, usually lighter at the base, legs greenish-grey.
Status
Non-breeding summer migrant.
Distribution
Found on the sea coast and at estuaries as well as next to inland waters. Throughout south-eastern Africa.
