Spotted Thick Knees are also known as Cape Thick Knees and are native to tropical regions of southern Africa. These tall birds can reach over 17 inches in height and have long legs and brown and white speckled feathers making it difficult to spot. Its head is large with large prominent yellow eyes and a short stout beak. Its legs are long and thickened at the joint giving the bird its name.

The bird is nocturnal and squats on the ground under bushes during the daytime. It hunts exclusively on the ground and eats insects, small mammals and Lizards. It nests on the ground with the female generally laying two eggs. The males and females raise the offspring together.

Recently there have been several Spotted Thick Knees at Sunset Dam in Kruger National Park sitting under the bushes in the shadows.