Double-striped Thick-knee

Burhinus bistriatus

eBird describes the Double-striped Thick-knee like this:  Large and bizarre shorebird of lowland dry grassland and savannas, usually found in pairs or small groups. Active mainly at night (note the big, yellow, owl-like eyes). During the daytime, usually seen standing or sitting quietly, often in the shade of small trees or bushes. Note cryptic, overall pale sandy plumage, double stripes on the head, and long yellow legs.

The Birds of the World website introduces the Double-striped Thick-knee with this descriptive information: The Double-striped Thick-knee is distributed from southern Mexico to Costa Rica, from northern Colombia to Guyana, in northeastern Brazil, and on Curaçao and Hispaniola. Like other thick-knees, it occurs in dry pastures and other open areas. It is the only thick-knee within its range, and the long legs and neck, large eyes, and short bill allow immediate identification. Largely nocturnal, these birds often crouch in a shady place and droop their upper eyelids in the bright mid-day sun. They feed by walking along, bending over plover-like to pick up invertebrates. Thick-knees call noisily at night or when disturbed, a repeated kek note that gets louder and faster the more excited the caller becomes.

I saw and photographed my first Double-striped Thick-knee on the late afternoon of February 10, 2023 while taking a boat tour on the Tarcoles River in Costa Rica.  This bird offered us some very good looks!