Hi Greg,
Interesting answer and probably right. Except that Greg appears to have
overlooked the earlier recommended names list. It is the changes and the
various independent books that have caused some confusion.
The 1978 list had Rufous Night Heron, Australian Kestrel and Thick-knee (note
NOT "Thickknee") and yes it is its ankles not its knees that are thick but
similar anatomical error occurs with Red-kneed Dotterel and Black-shouldered
Kite. The error occurs because humans are unusual in walking on our full foot
so that the ankle is close to the ground. In most mammals the ankle is about a
third of the way up the leg, however in birds the ankle appears about halfway
up the visible part of the leg and the knee is not visible and close to the
body. As for the shoulder, birds are unusual in that when the wing is folded
the wrist is sort of above the real shoulder and looks sort of like a shoulder
but it isn't.
The 1994 list (C&B) had Nankeen Night Heron, Nankeen Kestrel and Stone-curlew,
(note NOT Stone Curlew, as it is not believed closely related to Curlews).
I had thought that Nankeen referred to the upperparts of both the kestrel and
the NH. Was curious to see the other comments.
Philip
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